The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has authorized extra fishing days for 301 Valencian vessels that have complied with European sustainable fishing regulations. To their existing 143 annual fishing days, an additional 2,454 days will now be added, to be distributed among these boats.
One hundred and six of these vessels are based in the ports of Alicante province, including 40 from the port of Santa Pola, 23 from Vila Joiosa, 14 from Dénia, 13 from Calp, nine from Altea, five from Torrevieja, and two from Xàbia.
The measure recognizes the use of 'flying doors,' hydrodynamic devices that keep the net open without touching the seabed, thus preserving the ecosystem. Raúl Puente, skipper of a boat from Santa Pola, noted that these doors prevent direct impact on the seabed, although he called for financial aid for their additional cost.
José López, president of the Santa Pola fishermen's guild, welcomed the news, considering it compensation for the measures required of the fishing fleet. This extension of permitted fishing days ends five years of continuous reduction in trawling days.
