Several methods of fishing are used in Tenerife, ranging from artisanal inshore fishing to recreational marine fishing, which includes spearfishing and angling.

Artisanal inshore fishing

Our artisanal inshore fishing is carried out close to shore by professional fishermen in small and medium-sized boats, generally made of wood, used for fishing with smaller gear.

The fishing effort focuses on demersal coastal resources (vieja, common dentex, comber, sargo, black seabream, etc.), coastal pelagic resources and oceanic pelagic species (sardines, mackerel, Atlantic horse mackerel, anchovies, bogue, tunas and similar fish) and shellfish resources (shrimp, sea snails and crabs), which are fished using the gear and tackle generally used for artisanal fishing.

Sectoral organisation

Tenerife has the highest number of Fisherman's Guilds in Spain compared to any other region in the country.

The Artisanal Fishing Sector in Tenerife is grouped into ten Fisherman's Guilds (CP):

CP San Andrés.
CP Nuestra Señora (Ntra. Sra.) de La Candelaria.
CP San Miguel de Tajao.
CP Ntra. Sra. de Las Mercedes.
CP Ntra. Sra. de La Luz.
CP San Roque e Isla Baja.
CP San Marcos.
CP El Gran Poder de Dios.
CP Ntra. Sra. del Carmen.
CP Ntra. Sra. de La Consolación.

Recreational sea fishing

Lucrative and commercial activity is prohibited in recreational fishing.
Compliance with the minimum size limits for all species is mandatory.
A recreational sea fishing permit is required for any fishing of this nature.

Spearfishing

Equipment: Spear gun, knife or polespear.
Captures are limited to 5 kilos per person per day.

Angling

Equipment or tackle: Any type of line or cord, and no more than three hooks without any electrical or electronic devices to attract or concentrate fish.
Only two per fisherman, providing no more than three hooks per common shaft are used. The use of surrounding nets, gillnets, trawls, longlines, fish pots, traps, smelt nets and similar tackle.
Captures are limited to 4 kilos per person per day.

Licences

First class licence - Authorisation for fishing from recreational boats at least three nautical miles from the shoreline.
Second class licence - Authorisation for freedive spearfishing in certain specified areas.
Third class licence - Authorisation for angling (rods) and inshore fishing.

Maintenance of the sector

The high level of intrusiveness and poaching undergone in this sector, the widespread use of unselective fishing gear (fish pots and other types of traps), certain prohibited practices that are deeply rooted in various places in our island geography, uncontrolled sports fishing and other factors are causing important social and economic damage to the fishing industry.

To mitigate such negative effects, make these slogans your own

Yes to the sustainability of traditional local fishing methods.
Yes to complementary and/or alternative activities.
Yes to the traceability of fishing products.
Yes to inspections and controls.
Yes to information.

The sector in numbers

Fleet: Around 339 units.
Crew: Around 497 professional fishermen, between shipowners and seamen.
Annual captures: 3500-3800 tonnes, of which more than 3000 are pelagic.

Associated documents