The year's inaugural 'levantá' took place at the Barbate almadraba, operated by Petaca Chico. Industry experts indicate that the almadraba traps are full, and calm seas and favorable weather conditions are crucial for successful fishing operations. Soon, 'levantás' are also expected to begin in the almadrabas of Conil, Tarifa, and Zahara, managed by the Organization of Almadraba Producers and marketed under the Gadira brand.
Petaca Chico, the company overseeing operations in Barbate, expresses significant optimism for the start of this season. This sentiment is bolstered by the recent increase in catch quotas and the notable recovery of the red tuna stock observed in recent years.
The commencement of the 'levantás' not only signals the start of fishing activities but also a period of great importance for the Cadiz coast. During these months, fishing intertwines with tourism and gastronomy, particularly through the popular red tuna routes in municipalities such as Barbate, Conil, and Zahara de los Atunes.
Securing an increased fishing quota for almadraba red tuna was not an easy process. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the body regulating tuna fishing in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, held a meeting in Seville in November to establish quotas for the next three years. Despite intense negotiations among representatives from 60 countries and pressures from the North American delegation, a consensus was reached.
After three consecutive years with frozen Total Allowable Catches (TAC), ICCAT agreed to a 17% increase in the European quota, a decision warmly welcomed by the Cadiz almadraba sector. This agreement aims to balance fishing interests with the need to ensure sustainable exploitation of the species.
It is worth recalling that in 2005, two decades ago, ICCAT imposed severe restrictions on red tuna fishing due to the species' threatened status. For ten years, quotas were very limited, and it was not until 2013 that the organization began to cautiously ease regulations. The initial restrictions dealt a heavy blow to the four almadrabas of Cádiz, which saw their allocations drastically reduced from 1,417 tons in 2006 to 650 in 2005, leading to protests from hundreds of almadraba families.
The situation began to improve in 2017, when the quota was raised to 1,097 tons. For the period between 2023 and 2025, the quota was set at 1,643 tons. The recent 17% increase has generated positive expectations, and the sector hopes this increment will fully materialize in practice.
