What is biological rest?

"The biological rest of closure of the inland fishing ground of the Basque Country.This reduces the effort exerted on our coast's fishing stocks by making activity more sustainable in the long run."

An annual period of biological rest is established for the artisanal fleet belonging to the census of minor gears with a base port in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, in order to contribute to reducing the impact of fishing by these vessels on the environment. On the other hand, an action foreseen in the Operational Program of the FEMP 2014-2020 which is part of the priorities of the European Union for the promotion of sustainable fishing.

The Common Fisheries Policy has as one of its essential objectives to promote a professional, economically profitable fleet that guarantees a sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources, in a way that allows optimal use without putting at risk the biological balance of the exploited populations and the integrity of the physical environment.

In this sense, Regulation (EU) No. 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of December 11, 2013, establishes the new regulatory framework on the Common Fisheries Policy, its scope of application, its objectives and principles of good governance.

This biological stoppage will make it possible to carry out a reduction in the fishing effort in the fishing grounds of the Basque coast and facilitate the reproduction of fingerlings of some of the target species of this artisanal fleet.

The affected fleet comprises the following trades or modalities: traps, bakarra, trammel, longline, hand lines and trolling.