IN BRIEF - The modification of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy has been approved
SPAIN
Friday, August 02, 2024
The Council of Ministers, at the proposal of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, has approved the draft Law to amend the consolidated text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy, as well as the Law on Maritime Navigation and its submission to the Congress of Deputies.
For recreational boating, the reform of both texts represents a historic advance in rights, reinforces their recognition in the regulatory field and grants legal security to the sector. Thus, recreational and sports navigation will have its own chapter in the new Law, which incorporates a series of regulations, some of them especially innovative, which will provide solutions to essential practical needs to strengthen the modernization and improvement of the competitiveness of the nautical sector, and in whose achievement the work of ANEN with the General Directorate of the Merchant Navy has been essential.
The most relevant novelties will be the following:
1) Nautical activity will be granted treatment with the rank of law, including it as another category of navigation with its own legal autonomy.
2º) A notarial procedure is regulated for the abandonment of recreational vessels and ships.
3º) The definition of recreational vessels and ships will also be given the rank of law, classifying them as civil vessels and not merchant vessels.
4º) A Recreational Vessel Computer File is created that will allow both the injured parties and the competent Administrations
ABANCA has renewed its collaboration agreements with the OP ANACEF Professional Fishermen's Organization and the Port and Ría de Marín Fishing Producers' Organization (OPROMAR), reaffirming its commitment to the entire maritime value chain.
The signing ceremony, held in Marín, was attended by José Luis Ramírez (ABANCA), Francisco Freire Lino (OP ANACEF), Claudino González (OPROMAR), and Javier Fraga (ABANCA Mar). The meeting served to map out a joint roadmap to tackle challenges such as rising costs, the lack of generational renewal, and the current geopolitical situation.
Sustainability is the core focus of the agreement. Through ABANCA Mar (a specialized unit active since 2016), the bank offers a tailored product catalog where credit takes center stage. A key highlight is the naval mortgage, designed to upgrade the fleet with more efficient vessels.
These comprehensive solutions—including credit lines, loans, and advanced sustainable subsidy payouts—will benefit 18 freezer trawlers from OP ANACEF and 30 fishing companies from OPROMAR.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) has announced the opening of a new support scheme aimed at assisting owners of registered fishing and aquaculture vessels in managing rising fuel costs.
Application Timeline
The scheme officially opened for applications on 21 May 2026. Interested applicants have a limited window to apply, as submissions will close at 5:00pm on 12 June 2026. BIM has advised that late applications will not be accepted, urging eligible vessel owners to submit their applications in advance of the deadline.
Further details on eligibility criteria and application processes are available here. Vessel owners are encouraged to review the requirements carefully and apply within the specified timeframe.
According to data compiled by the Miyagi Prefecture Fisheries Co-operative, market values for farmed coho salmon (gin-zake) are currently facing a downward trend. As of May 20, average cumulative prices have dropped by 8%, hitting a low of $5.11 per kilogram (812 Yen).
The recent figures show a clear decline compared to the much higher price ranges recorded during the exact same period in the previous year. Landings are still progressing across key distribution hubs, with the underlying data originating from the combined market locations of Onagawa, Ishinomaki markets, and the Shizugawa operations office.
Industry experts note that all listed unit prices are calculated excluding consumption tax. Despite steady shifting market values, overall aquaculture revenues in Miyagi Prefecture are experiencing pressure due to this ongoing price slump.
At the 33rd annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada, Vladimir Belyaev, Advisor to the Director of the Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO), was elected President of the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC). This appointment underscores the authority of Russian fisheries science and strengthens the country's role in managing transboundary marine resources.
The NPAFC, comprising five member countries, has established critical objectives for the upcoming term. Key priorities include tracking the migration, abundance, and survival of Pacific salmon. Following below-average catch volumes in 2025, the commission will focus on developing data-driven recommendations to protect vulnerable populations. Additionally, member states will coordinate strict measures to combat illegal fishing across the high seas.
"Conserving salmon stocks cannot tolerate disunity," stated Belyaev. "Sustainability depends on honest cooperation to forecast population dynamics and ensure protection in the convention area."
The measure, approved under the new temporary framework for the Middle East crisis, will cover costs for April and May 2026 and will be open until the end of the year.
The European Commission has approved a French state aid scheme worth €13 million for fishing companies affected by rising fuel prices resulting from the crisis in the Middle East. The decision falls under the temporary state aid mechanism adopted by Brussels on April 29, 2026.
According to information released by the Commission, the French program will cover costs corresponding to April and May 2026 and can be implemented until December 31 of this year.
SPAIN
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UNITED STATES
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
JAPAN
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RUSSIAN FEDERATION
FRANCE
The measure, approved under the new temporary framework for the Middle East crisis, will cover costs for April and May 2026 and will be open until the end of the year.
