AM-CC Fuerteventura backs fishers in fight against on‑board weighing

“It is excessively restrictive and is causing sanctions that stem from simple estimation differences, not from fraudulent practices or illegal fishing.”

The Majorero Assembly – Canarian Coalition Fuerteventura (AM‑CC) has voiced its backing for the Canarian artisanal fishing sector, which rejects the mandatory on‑board weighing of catches imposed by European regulations. The party argues that the rule is out of touch with the daily reality of fishing at sea.

The regulation requires that all catches be weighed on board within a strict tolerance margin. Consequently, when vessels dock, any discrepancy between the weight estimated during the fishing operation and the weight recorded later on the port’s scale can lead to significant economic penalties for fishers.

AM‑CC is calling for the rule to be reviewed and adapted to the specific characteristics of the Canary fleet, to avoid what it sees as unfair and disproportionate sanctions. The sector reports that the current European tolerance margin is 10 %.

“It is excessively restrictive and is causing sanctions that stem from simple estimation differences, not from fraudulent practices or illegal fishing, but from eye‑ball calculation errors,” the party explains.

In addition to the weighing requirement, fishers must also comply with digital reporting obligations and a mandatory pre‑arrival notice to the port—measures that, according to AM‑CC, “do not fit the daily reality of the Canarian inshore fleet.” The organization reminds that the Canary Islands enjoy a specific status as an Outermost Region (RUP), whose particularities should be considered by the European Union when applying such regulations.

For AM‑CC, the situation reveals a deep lack of understanding of the real conditions under which Canarian artisanal fishing operates. Small vessels and the rhythm of a fishing day make it unfeasible to stop activities to classify and weigh each catch, as doing so would jeopardize safety, workflow, and productivity.

This is especially true for tuna fishing, where the artisanal model relies on a “one man, one hook, one catch” approach that demands agility and continuous operation. Therefore, the sector demands that, once in port, any weight discrepancies be corrected without automatically triggering a sanction.

AM‑CC reiterates its support for the artisanal fishing sector and condemns a regulation it deems disconnected from maritime reality and harmful to “one of the most important traditional sectors in the Canary Islands.”

“Canarian artisanal fishing needs a fair regulatory framework that matches its reality and needs. It is one of the most sustainable fishing methods and has managed to stay clear of industrial models. Consequently, it must be protected and supported, not harmed by laws that do not fit its way of working and that severely undermine the sector.”