The Government of the Canary Islands (Gobierno de Canarias) has temporarily authorised the gathering of Mejillón canario (Perna perna) on Fuerteventura until 30 November 2026. The authorisation was granted by the Dirección General de Pesca following an application by the Cofradía de Pescadores de Gran Tarajal. It does not end the strict ban on harvesting, which has been in force for 22 years, but creates a narrowly limited exception subject to conditions.
According to the Gobierno de Canarias, existing protection rules remain in force. Specific conditions apply to professional and recreational gatherers, including quantity limits and designated harvesting periods. The authorisation is explicitly a temporary, controlled measure and may be revoked if risks to stocks emerge.
The legal basis for shellfish gathering (marisqueo) in the Canary Islands is Decreto 134/1986 of 12 September; the coasts of Fuerteventura are also covered by the Orden of 16 July 2004, which establishes a special protection regime for Mejillón canario. The current authorisation does not permanently alter this protection regime or fully lift the general closed season. It permits harvesting only within the designated period and subject to the stated limits.
In parallel, the regional government has commissioned the public company TRAGSATEC to carry out a scientific study. The study is intended to update the assessment of Perna perna populations on Fuerteventura, evaluate their capacity to recover and provide a sound basis for future decisions on protection and use. The project is due to be completed in summer 2027. The last comprehensive stock assessment dates from 2014; since then, assessments have been based mainly on field observations from the artisanal fishing sector, which reports that stocks are recovering.
The government says the aim is to balance protection of Mejillón canario with the continuation of traditional marisquería. Effective controls against illegal harvesting and strict compliance with the conditions will be crucial to the success of the temporary opening. The Dirección General de Pesca intends to consider adjusting the protection rules if necessary, based on the study’s findings. If the data remain uncertain or the results indicate risks, the previous strict ban is to be reinstated.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).