Spain E2 (Atlantic/Canary isles) Socio-economic Profile


1 Spain : E2
1.1 Overview

The area defined as Spain  E2 covers the areas of the Atlantic Andalusia and the Canary Islands, which together with Galicia are the regions where fishing takes on the most importance.  In 1996 the E2 fishing fleet comprised  3,256 vessels of which 1,678 vessels were in Atlantic Andalusia and 1,578 vessels were in the Canaries. Since 1991 vessel numbers have fallen by 6%,  whilst tonnage has fallen from 158,775 GRT in 1991 to 109,120 GRT in 1996,  a decrease of 31% in GRT terms.

The fleets along the Western Andalusia coast work in the Portuguese, Moroccan and Gulf of Cadiz fishing grounds included Region IX of ICES, whereas Canary coastal fishing vessels work in the  waters under Spanish jurisdiction off the Canary Islands and Morocco. These are of particular importance and provide employment for fishers from Huelva and Cadiz as well as assorted octopus and cuttlefish  fishers from Las Palmas who work in the waters under the jurisdiction of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and Senegal.

The deep sea fishing fleets of the both the Canaries and the Andalusian Atlantic operate in CEAF as well as ICSEAF zones. It is based mainly in Huelva operating throughout the whole of the African coastline from Morocco around to Mozambique, together with some large sized tuna catching units from Cadiz, Algeciras and Las Palmas.

In 1996 the Spain E2 fish landings were 257,666 tonnes worth 435,115,470 ECU.  The majority of these landings were fresh fish (83%) with a large proportion  being made up of sardine landings (112,282 tonnes) from Lanzarote (Canary Isles) intended for fishmeal and oil processing. Whilst the Canaries account for the bulk of the volume,  Cadiz has the highest total value of landings with hake, shrimp, sardine and anchovy.

Catches by the Andalusian Atlantic fleet have been generally steady since the last study aside  from seasonal variations.  1997 landings were 257,660 tonnes

In the Canary Islands in 1990 a total of 29,209 tonnes of fresh fish was landed (excluding sardines)  this figure dropped to 23,257 in 1993 and increased to 33,128 in 1997.  These change is attributed to the consolidation of the tuna fishing fleet.

There were 151,780 tonnes of fish processed in the E3 area. The proportion of landings processed in the region of Atlantic Andalusia is 1.42% with the remaining 98.57% transferred out of the region.


1.2  Coastal Fishing Employment

Direct employment in the E2 fishing sector totals almost 12,000 people. This total comprises of 150 women and 11,801 men.  There are 7,108 full time fishers and 4,693 part time.  The province of Cadiz has the greatest number of fishers with a total of 4,399 of which over half (54%) are in full time employment. In Huelva, 63% of the 3,737 fishers are part time. The dependency upon fishing for employment in this region is also higher than in Cadiz. There are 3,665 fishers in the Canary Islands, 2,851 of these in Las Palmas.

1.3 Processing Employment

Employment in processing totals 1,627 people.  This total is distributed fairly evenly between both genders with 789 women and 838 men being employed. There are few part time workers, only 100 in total (all in the Canaries).  Huelva is the location with the most processing having a total of  808 workers.    

1.4 Vessel Construction and Repair Employment

There are a total of  3,195 persons employed in the construction and repairs industry, with 1,463 employed in Las Palmas alone. In Cadiz there are 955 people involved in vessel construction and repair of which 64 are women. In Huelva there are 583 men employed, of whom 6% are self employed.

1.5 Aquaculture Employment

The aquaculture industry in region E2 employs 438 individuals of whom 218 are in Cadiz,  104 in Huelva,  58 in Sevilla,  48 in Las Palmas and 10 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.  Employment of women is only significant in Las Palmas.  Self employment in the sector is important only in the Canary Islands  (co-ops).