Spain faces a silent contradiction on the supermarket shelf. While eight out of ten citizens assure that the social impact of their purchase is a fundamental factor, the reality of the shopping basket tells a different story, marked by the dictatorship of the cent and the lack of critical information. Julio Morongeneral director of the Organization of Associated Producers of Large Freezer Tuna Vessels (Opagac), president of the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (Cepesca) and doctor in biology from the Complutense University of Madrid, defines this phenomenon as a paradox that puts the survival of the European fleet at risk.
The report “What do we know about what we eat from the sea” reveals that the 80.5% of Spaniards say they give importance to social sustainabilitybut when the decisive moment comes to choose a product, the working conditions of the fishermen fall to the bottom of the priorities, with a score of just 1.61 out of 6, compared to the overwhelming weight of taste and price.
This abyss between what the consumer declares and what he finally executes is fueled by a deep information vacuum. According to the data presented by Opagac, the 74.5% of Spaniards recognizes that their knowledge about responsible fishing is medium or very low. Only 40.5% feel they have sufficient tools to make an ethical purchase, which generates “operational insecurity” at the point of sale.
Morón points out that this lack of literacy about the origin of fish allows products obtained by Asian or African vessels and in conditions that he describes as “inhumane” compete on equal terms with the Spanish fleet, which voluntarily submits to 24/7 transparency standards and independent audits under the UNE Responsible Fishing Tuna (APR) standard. And, for the biologist and business leader, there is no real sustainability if the human factor is ignored, remembering that “respecting the ocean is respecting fishermen.”
Europe tightens, Asia advances: the unequal battle that sinks sustainable fishing
The situation for the Spanish fishing sector is critical due to what Morón describes as a “legislative strangulation” by the European Union. In the last decade, community fishing policy has focused almost exclusively on environmental sustainability and the recovery of ecosystems, a strategy that, according to the president of Cepesca, has “burned” the fleet through regulations, fines and suffocating quotas.
Morón denounces an existential dilemma: either the European Commission adapts the legislation to possible compliance criteria or the European fleet will go into extinction. He criticizes that, while the “unspeakable” is demanded of European ships, trade policy opens the market to products from third countries, mainly Asians, who operate with lax labor and environmental standards.
The impact of this unfair competition is already tangible. Morón gives the Atlantic as an example, a traditional fishing ground where Spanish catches have decreased by 30% in the last six years. This void has been filled by Korean or Chinese fleets flagged in countries such as Senegal or Ghana, where salaries can be up to ten times lower than on a Spanish ship.
“We are being replaced,” warns Morónpointing out that it is difficult for the consumer to distinguish a can of tuna that comes from Thailand from one that comes from Galicia on the shelf if there is not total transparency in the labeling. Their proposal is bold: requiring that the packaging specify whether the fish comes from a Taiwanese or Chinese vessel, allowing the citizen to exercise their decision-making power with all the information on the table.
The Spanish fishing industry demands a relaxation of bureaucratic requirements similar to what the agricultural sector has achieved with the CAP. Morón insists that they are not asking to lower the sustainability of resources, but rather to eliminate regulations that are “impossible to comply with” that only add bureaucratic burden without real benefits for the sea.
He mentions the recent conflict over the control regulations and weighings, where the fleet rebelled against the unfeasibility of the new regulations. Broadly speaking, he says, the sector seeks a “more practical interpretation” of the laws that allows us to recover lost competitiveness compared to global competitors.
Despite the gloomy scenario, the report detects signs of hope, especially in the new generations. The Generation Z is more aware of the role of companies and supermarkets as guarantors of social ethics, displacing the responsibility that older people usually place solely on Governments.
Furthermore, a 57.7% of Spaniards say they are willing to pay a somewhat higher price if you are guaranteed that the fish has been caught under decent working conditions. This economic commitment, which exceeds 60% in the age segment of 18 to 54 years, is the basis on which Opagac has launched the international Hands for the Oceans movement. This project seeks to transform APR certification into a global standard that audits not only the status of stocks, but also the well-being of the crew on board.
Morón emphasizes that social sustainability is the “all-risk insurance” that the Spanish fleet offers to the market. Through the UNE standard, ships certify compliance with ILO Convention 188, ensuring decent working conditions, safety on board and repatriation mechanisms in the event of an accident, something it defines as a “second social contract.”
Faced with the drift of “greenism” that forgets people, the sector demands that large distributors assume their responsibility, since the 79.3% of the population considers them critical agents to prevent the commercialization of products obtained through slavery or human exploitation.
The future of fishing in Spain depends, ultimately, on whether this awareness declared by 80% of consumers translates into a real choice on the shelf. Seven out of ten Spaniards believe that responsible consumption will gain relevance in the next five years, but Morón warns that time is running out for community production if balanced global supervision is not achieved.
Without market recognition that differentiates well-fished and well-prepared products, the Spanish fleet will face the risk of disappearing from competitors who use inhumane conditions to reduce costs. The survival of the sector requires convincing consumers that paying a little more is, in reality, an investment in human rights and the future health of the oceans.