Socio-economic impacts of the landing obligation of the European Union Common Fisheries Policy on Galician (NW Spain) small-scale fisheries

Abstract

This paper analyses the impacts of the new LO policy on small-scale fishing fleet under the TAC regulation in Galicia, namely focused on Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus), European hake (Merluccius merluccius) and Rays (Rajidae). The paper shows that, as in much of the North Atlantic small-scale fisheries, the volume of discards of these species is relatively small, at 0–5% of the total volume of catches. However, while the volume of discards may increase as quotas allocated to a fleet are exhausted, discards by the small-scale fleet are managed by a combination of effort and minimum size. The main reason given by fishers is that small-scale fishing is highly selective and has a discard ratio significantly lower than that of industrial fishing.Regarding the impacts of the landing obligation (LO), this paper shows that 88% of the Galician small-scale fishers interviewed who harvest species (Atlantic mackerel, European hake and ray) under the European Union TAC regulation. Indeed, 60% of the fishers indicated that the implementation of the LO would mean they would leave small-scale fishing. The main incentive to avoiding discards lies in changing the system of TACs and quotas (based on the principle of relative stability of the EU), promoting small-scale fishing and increasing de “de minimis” exceptions. The fact that many small-scale fishers are not willing to accept the LO highlights the lack of information and dialogue on the part of authorities regarding the impact of the LO on small-scale fishing.Regarding the economic and social impact of the LO on Galician small-scale fisheries, the economic loss for the fleet which harvest species under the TAC regulation is estimated to be 58,753,632 EUR per year. In macroeconomic terms, the direct economic loss will lead to lost income taxes plus the cost of unemployment payments to affected fishers. In microeconomic terms, given the high dependence on fishing revenues of coastal communities, the household incomes of around 3000 small-scale fishers (nearly 11,000 people taking into account family members) would be negatively affected. The effects on other economic branches supplying goods and services to small-scale fisheries are excluded from this estimate. This impact would further aggravate the social and economic crisis of the Galician small-scale fishing sector, which has lost 17% of its fishing vessels and 20% direct employment in the last decade.