PSOE urges Brussels to back Canary Islands artisanal fishing under RUP

The PSOE branch in Fuerteventura announced that it has taken the consultations with the archipelago’s fishing brotherhoods.

According to the party, Socialist MEP ** demands of the island’s and the Canary Islands’ artisanal fishing sector to the European Parliament after extensiveJuan Fernando López Aguilar** reported in Brussels that the European Union is not applying its own specific guidelines for ultra‑peripheral regions (UPR) in fisheries policy. The PSOE argues that this omission penalises the sector with “irrational requirements,” such as the mandatory digital fishing logbook.

“Support for Canary artisanal fishing requires demanding, across all EU fishing areas with sustainability criteria that preserve fish stocks and traditional fishing methods,” said José Cabr institutions, the implementation of specific policies for UPRs that promote generational renewal and the zoning ofera, Secretary of Municipal Policy, Primary Sector, Food and Food Sovereignty for the PSOE of F‑peripheral regions.

• Assistance for generational renewal in the fishing community.
• Zoning of capture areas based on sustainable criteria.
• Regulation of fishing activities through traditional gear.

Cabrera summed up the stance with the slogan “one man, one hook,” emphasizing the need to protect artisanal fisheries in Fuerteventura and the Canary Islands from industrial exploitation that could threaten island fishing grounds.

“We have succeeded in bringing these demands from Fuerteventura to Brussels, defending fairness, common sense, and the rights of Canary artisanal fishing within the framework of ultra‑peripheral regions,” Cabrera concluded.

What Is the Digital Fishing Logbook?

The so‑called digital logbook (or electronic fishing diary) is a tool that records and transmits, via telematics, data on vessel activities, including catches, species, quantities, fishing zones, and landings. Its implementation is part of the new EU fisheries control framework. Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 mandates a progressive digitalisation of catch reporting and provides simplified procedures for vessels under 12 metres, aiming to avoid a disproportionate burden on smaller boats.

Artisanal fishers oppose the measure because it adds administrative and technological demands that many small‑scale vessels, especially those operating in near‑shore (bajura) fisheries, are ill‑equipped to meet. Factors such as limited working conditions, the age of some operators, and daily operational routines make adaptation to a fully digital system challenging.