European Commission extends Balearic boat-seine derogation to 2029
Balearic boat-seine vessels keep near-shore access only under authorisation limits
Change
The European Commission extended from 1 May 2026 until 30 April 2029 the derogation allowing qualifying Balearic boat-seine vessels to fish for transparent gobies, Ferrer’s gobies and Lowbody picarel despite Mediterranean minimum-distance and depth limits.
Why it matters
The regulation keeps a narrow exemption from Mediterranean coastal-distance and sea-depth restrictions for specified Balearic boat-seine fisheries. Access is limited to authorised vessels listed in the Balearic maritime census and Spain’s management plan, with more than five years’ track record and no increase in fishing effort. The authorisation pool is capped at 55 vessels, each limited to 12 metres and 198.5 kW, with Spain required to report monitoring results to the Commission.
Implications
- — Balearic boat-seine operators fishing for transparent gobies, Ferrer’s gobies and Lowbody picarel must meet the census, track-record, authorisation and management-plan conditions — vessels outside those conditions cannot rely on the derogation.
- — Spain’s fisheries authority must keep authorisations within the 55-vessel, 12-metre and 198.5 kW limits and submit monitoring reports to the Commission — the derogation depends on continued management-plan evidence.
- — Fisheries inspection teams monitoring the Balearic Islands must apply the exemption only to qualifying boat-seine vessels targeting the specified species — the general minimum-distance and depth limits continue to apply outside the specified scope.
Who is affected
- — Balearic boat-seine vessel operators
- — Spain’s fisheries authority
- — Fisheries inspection teams monitoring the Balearic Islands
What to watch
- — 1 May 2026: derogation applies from this date.
- — 30 September 2027: Spain’s first monitoring-plan report is due to the Commission.
- — 30 April 2029: derogation expires unless extended again.