The island corporation has approved a package of measures to promote the ‘Pesca Artesanal’ brand, recover the consumption of traditional species, and combat illegal fishing.
The Cabildo has reaffirmed its commitment to the island’s fishing sector during the Primary Sector Plenary Commission, officially approving a proposal aimed at consolidating, strengthening, and adapting current actions to the real needs communicated by industry professionals. It recognised the fishing sector as “an economic, social, and cultural activity of great importance for Tenerife, serving as an essential element for the conservation of maritime traditions and the maintenance of coastal areas.”
Strategic Roadmap
In this regard, the Cabildo has devised a roadmap centred on five strategic axes: commercial promotion, visibility for women, accessible training, environmental sustainability, and continual institutional support.
To encourage the consumption of locally sourced fresh fish, the Cabildo will continue to promote the distinctive ‘Pesca Artesanal’ brand in collaboration with the Coastal Action Group (GAC). Additionally, funding lines for the marketing of tuna caught around the island will be maintained, alongside intensified advertising campaigns on radio and television and demonstrations at markets and educational centres.
Training Initiatives
As a new initiative, specific training sessions will be held with fishmongers on the island in July. The current focus will be on reviving the sale of traditional species with high gastronomic value, such as ‘viejita’, ‘sargo’, ‘salema’, and ‘cabrilla’, which have lost ground to farmed fish products.
The agreement particularly highlights the advancements made to elevate the status of women in a traditionally male-dominated field. Although historically their roles have been linked to administrative tasks within fishing associations—activities vital for the sector’s sustainability—the Cabildo and GAC continue to promote their full professional integration throughout the entire value chain.
Women in the Fishing Sector
This effort is reflected in recent initiatives such as the mentoring project “Heritage and Future: Women in the Artisanal Fishing of Tenerife” (part of the Ingenia programme by ULL), participation in the “Rural Woman” event in Candelaria, and engagement in key meetings like the Insular Meeting of Women in the Primary Sector at Finca Boquín and the 8th Congress of the Spanish Network of Women in the Fishing Sector.
Educational Access
In educational matters, the Cabildo of Tenerife has resolved to urge the Directorate General for Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands to facilitate access to mandatory maritime-fishing vocational training. The island corporation requests greater territorial decentralisation of courses offered by the Maritime-Fishing Vocational Training Institute, as well as the implementation of hybrid or online modalities that eliminate geographical barriers for the island’s workers.
Combatting Illegal Fishing
The island corporation has reaffirmed its commitment to raising awareness and preventing illegal fishing, a practice that severely threatens the profitability of the artisanal sector and the marine ecosystem. Although inspection responsibilities fall under the regional government, the Cabildo will continue its informational campaigns and explore new collaborative inter-administrative tools to strengthen the protection of Tenerife’s coasts.
Ongoing Support
Finally, the resolution solidifies ongoing financial and institutional support for the Coastal Action Group of Tenerife and the fishing associations. This cooperation ensures the viability of sustainable development projects that secure the economic, social, and environmental future of artisanal fishing on the island.
