— The ISPAMER scientific report shows that semi-pelagic stone longlines keep hooks suspended in the water column and have minimal contact with the seabed

— The study, developed by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography with the participation of OPP-7 Burela and co-financed by FEMPA, recorded only 10 interactions with species associated with vulnerable marine ecosystems across more than 6.3 million hooks

— Galician and fisheries representatives urge the European Commission to review the application of Regulation 2022/1614 as soon as possible and to exclude this gear of selective fishing from its scope

Brussels, September 11, 2026. Galicia renewed its call this week in Brussels for a review of the ban affecting semi-pelagic stone longlines, following the results of the ISPAMER scientific project that provided new evidence on the lower impact of this fishing gear on the seabed and vulnerable marine ecosystems.

The report was presented in Brussels by Pablo Abaunza, a researcher at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), during a meeting attended by representatives of European institutions, Members of the European Parliament and stakeholders from the Galician fishing sector. The research analysed the characteristics and behaviour of semi-pelagic stone longlines, as well as their interaction with the seabed and species associated with vulnerable marine ecosystems.

The findings confirm that this is a semi-pelagic fishing gear. The hooks remain suspended in the water column, while the stones used in the fishing system keep the line in the correct position. Measurements taken during the study showed that the average distance between the hooks and the seabed was approximately 73 metres, demonstrating that this is not a conventional bottom fishing gear.

During the three-year monitoring period, researchers analysed more than 6.3 million hooks, around 55 fishing trips and approximately 1,500 fishing operations. Over that period, only 10 interactions involving species considered indicators of vulnerable marine ecosystems were recorded, representing a rate of just 0.0016 interactions per thousand hooks. The study also estimates that the maximum theoretical area of seabed contact by the stones used in a fishing operation is less than two square metres.

Project leaders also stressed the need to distinguish between different longline fishing methods. Scientific classifications differentiate between surface longlines, bottom longlines and mixed or semi-pelagic longlines. As explained during the presentation, simplifications in European fisheries data collection have led to fishing methods with different characteristics and levels of impact being grouped together under the category of bottom fishing gear.

Revision of Regulation 2022/1614

The meeting highlighted the sector’s concerns regarding the implementation of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1614, which established the closure of 87 areas in the Northeast Atlantic to bottom-contact fishing gear in order to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems.

Industry representatives argued that the broad application of the measure has failed to adequately take account of the differences between trawling and fixed, selective fishing gear such as semi-pelagic stone longlines. The ban has had a particularly significant impact on the Burela fleet, which has used this fishing method for decades.

During the meeting, Sergio López, Manager of OPP-7 Burela and Vice-President of Cepesca, highlighted the economic and social importance of the activity for local communities and called for an urgent amendment to the regulation before declining activity jeopardises the viability of a fleet specialised in this type of fishing.

According to data presented by the sector, the closures affected areas where approximately 34% of the fleet’s fishing activity had taken place during the reference period. The measure has also led to lower catches and forced vessels to alter their traditional fishing patterns.

Fleet representatives further called for new experimental fishing campaigns to be authorised within currently closed areas, under full scientific monitoring and observer coverage, in order to expand the available evidence on the behaviour of the gear and its actual interaction with the seabed.

During the meeting, several Members of the European Parliament agreed that the new scientific evidence should allow for a correction in the application of the regulation. Francisco José Millán Mon pointed out that Regulation 2022/1614 does not sufficiently distinguish between fishing gears with very different levels of impact and argued that the European Commission should act without waiting for the completion of other review processes.

Oihane Agirregoitia stressed the need for regulation to be based on the actual impact of each fishing gear rather than on broad classifications, while Nora Junco García argued that fisheries policy decisions must be grounded in scientific data and objective indicators. Nicolás González Casares called for the political will needed to accelerate the review of the measure and prevent disproportionate effects on fishing-dependent regions. Ana Miranda, meanwhile, argued that the decision should be corrected as soon as possible, describing it as disproportionate and calling on the Commission to take scientific evidence and the social and economic impact on the Galician fishing sector fully into account.

Finally, participants called on the European Commission to accelerate its scientific assessment and, once the relevant conclusions become available, to clearly distinguish semi-pelagic stone longlines from the bottom fishing gears targeted by the current regulation.

Sustainable fisheries and regulatory simplification

The conference also provided an opportunity to call for further simplification of European fisheries legislation and greater recognition of the efforts made by the sector to adopt more selective and sustainable fishing practices.

Galician representatives argued that future decisions under the Common Fisheries Policy must strike an appropriate balance between environmental, social and economic considerations, avoiding broad measures that fail to take account of the specific characteristics of each type of gear and fleet.

The representatives also underlined the need for the European Commission to base its decisions on the best available scientific evidence and to maintain an effective dialogue with the fisheries sector, particularly when regulatory measures have a direct impact on economic activity and employment in coastal communities.

Source: Xunta de Galicia