Spain crayfish (crawfish) - fyke nets & traps

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Overview

PEBAGUA (Association of fishing and aquaculture in the Doñana and Bajo Guadalquivir areas) is the organization leading the FIP project and represents all crayfish processing companies in Andalusia (ALFOCAN, EMFACAR, PESCACIAL, SEAFOOD SEVILLA, and SOUTH OCEAN). PEBAGUA buys crayfish catch directly from recreational fishermen in Andalusia or from distribution companies in Extremadura (who buy their catch from recreational fishermen/collectors in Extremadura). To date, fishermen in Andalusia and Extremadura are not associated with any group. Storage/distribution companies in Extremadura are not associated either. Most of PEBAGUA crayfish is bought from recreational fishermen in Andalusia, but an important part of their production is bought from the distribution companies in Extremadura. 

Crayfish are unevenly distributed throughout Andalusia and Extremadura. The crayfish are caught by hand with fyke nets in the marshes and rice fields of Andalusia and by boat using traps in lakes and rivers of Extremadura. Fishing is conducted by recreational fishermen who sell their catch to storage/distribution companies in Extremadura or to processing companies in Andalusia.

Fishing for crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in Andalusia and Extremadura is regulated through the Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) Control Plan in the Guadalquivir Marshes (BOJA nº 152, 2016. https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/boja /2016/152/BOJA16-152-00218.pdf) and the Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) Control Plan in Extremadura (DOE nº 220, 2016 http://doe.gobex.es/pdfs/doe/2016/2200o/16061720.pdf, modified by DOE nº 61, 2019. http://doe.gobex.es/pdfs/doe/2019/610o/19060641.pdf)

In Andalusia the crayfish fishery is located in the waters of Guadalquivir river (which is the only area where this fishery is allowed), however fishing for crayfish in Extremadura is allowed in all continental waters of Extremadura (which includes waters of Guadiana and Tajo rivers, although catches in Tajo waters are rare). 

Name of the fishery: Crayfish fishery in Andalusia and Extremadura

Targeted species common name: Crayfish / Crawfish / Cangrejo rojo americano

Targeted species scientific name: Procambarus clarkii

Targeted stock: Procambarus clarkii (stock boundaries undefined: either the Iberian Peninsula or the different regions where the fishery takes place).

The fishing method or gear type(s) and/or practice: Fyke nets in Andalusia and Crayfish traps in Extremadura.

The fishing fleet or group of vessels, or individuals fishing operators pursuing that stock: Recreational fishermen holders of administrative authorization to fish for crayfish in Andalusia or Extremadura and selling the catch to authorized storage/distribution or processing facilities.

Country: Spain

Continent: Europe

FAO major fishing areas: Freshwater fishery in continental waters of Spain. FAO zone 05.

FIP Description 

PEBAGUA (Association of fishing and aquaculture in the Doñana and Bajo Guadalquivir areas) is the organization leading the FIP project and represents all crayfish processing companies in Andalusia (ALFOCAN, EMFACAR, PESCACIAL, SEAFOOD SEVILLA, and

FIP Objective(s) 

The main objective of the present FIP is to achieve MSC certification by 2027. The FIP work plan is expected to be completed by December 2025. Given that certification processes last a year or a year and a half, it is expected that if the fishery initiates the certification process in early 2026, it will be MSC certified by 2027.

There are several specific objectives of the fishery improvement project:

- To define stock boundaries and stock status, and implement management measures such as a harvest strategy and harvest control rules directed to the stock.
- Implement management measures that serve to identify impacts on ecosystem elements and address them.
- Strengthen the management of crayfish. As an introduced species, the fishery is regulated by a "control" plan which focuses on the removals of the stock but does not consider other potential impacts on the ecosystem. Currently, there is little enforcement of the control plan.

FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 2: FIP Launch
Start and Projected End Dates
January 2021
December 2025
Next Progress Report Due 
Friday, July 30, 2021
Species 
Common Name 
Red Swamp Crayfish
Scientific Name
Procambarus clarkii
Gear Type 
Fyke Net
Trap Net
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 05 (Europe - Inland Waters)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Spain
Geographic Scope 
Basins of Guadalquivir, Guadiana and Tajo rivers
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
3,000 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
3,000 metric tons
Landings Date 
October 2020
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FIP at a Glance

57% 29% 14%
January 01, 2021
57% 29% 14%
Progress Rating

A - Advanced Progress
Reserved for comprehensive FIPs that have a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

B - Good Progress
A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 in more than 12 months AND Stage 3 activity in the last year; OR a basic FIP that has achieved Stage 4 or 5 achievements within the past 12 months.

C - Some Recent Progress
A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months but has not generated a Stage 3 result within the past 12 months OR a FIP younger than a year that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has completed a Stage 3 activity.

D - Some Past Progress
A FIP for which the most recent publicly reported Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 30) months.

E - Negligible Progress
A FIP older than a year that has not reported a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 30 month (but less than 36) months; OR a FIP younger than 1 year that has not reported a Stage 3 activity.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF
Not yet available
Actions Complete
  • Complete
  • Incomplete
Next Update Due FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.
Jul 2021
Target End Date
Dec 2025

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
PEBAGUA Association
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Gerardo Márquez Torres
Email 
gerardo.marquez@alfocan.com
Website Name 
Alfocan
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
14449