The fishing industry in the Gulf of Cádiz suffered a 19% production decline during the first two months of 2012 when compared to last year.
The Isla Cristina fishing area in Huelva province and Barbate in Cádiz province were the hardest hit. Turnover at the Huelva fish markets fared better than Cádiz but was still around €1 million less than last year with catches about 200 tons less than in 2011.
In Barbate, the catch went down from 847 tons in the first two months of 2011 to 181 tons in 2012.
The situation is being blamed on the lack of a new fishing agreement with Morocco, the closed season in compliance with the management of the fisheries in the gulf and the general economic climate.