Cantabria announces the 2026-2027 elver campaign with thirty business days

The Regional Ministry of Rural Development, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Government of Cantabria has announced the 2026-2027 elver fishing campaign, with the fishing period established between November 1, 2026, and February 28, 2027. The resolution also sets the closed season for the species and the thirty non-consecutive business days during which fishing may exceptionally take place. The text, signed by Minister María Jesús Susinos Tarrero in Santander on October 1, 2026, is published in the Official Gazette of Cantabria no. 194, of October 8, 2026, with reference CVE-2026-7825.

The regulation is based on Cantabria’s exclusive competence in inland water fisheries, recognized in article 24.12 of the Statute of Autonomy for Cantabria (Organic Law 8/1981, of December 30), and in article 13 of Law 1/2021, of March 4, on Marine Fishing, Shellfishing and Aquaculture of Cantabria, which empowers the competent ministry to set the conditions for extractive activity, including the shore fishing of juvenile European eels (Anguilla anguilla).

The European framework is provided by Council Regulation (EU) 2026/249, of January 26, 2026, which sets the fishing opportunities for certain stocks for 2026, 2027, and 2028 and amends Regulation (EU) 2025/202. The resolution is issued at the proposal of the Director General of Fisheries and Food and implements Order DES/26/2024, of October 8.

A calendar of thirty business days within the closed season

The resolution establishes the closed season between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027, which covers the migration of the species. However, under the exception of article 13.6 of Regulation (EU) 2026/249, during the main migration period—from November 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027—fishing is permitted for thirty non-consecutive days, applicable to all affected fishers in each fishing zone.

The thirty authorized business fishing days are as follows:

• From 6:00 PM on November 5, 2026, until 6:00 PM on November 13, 2026.
• From 6:00 PM on December 5, 2026, until 6:00 PM on December 13, 2026.
• From 6:00 PM on January 4, 2027, until 6:00 PM on January 11, 2027.
• From 6:00 PM on February 3, 2027, until 6:00 PM on February 10, 2027.

Flexibility regarding weather and coordination between basins

Exceptionally, and to provide response capacity in the face of unfavorable weather conditions, rising river levels, or other circumstances that prevent fishing, fishing may be authorized on alternative days. Sector representative entities must notify the Fisheries Activities Service at least forty-eight hours prior to the planned change.

Applications shall be submitted in person or electronically to the Registry of the Regional Ministry of Rural Development, Livestock, Fisheries and Food (calle Albert Einstein, 2, PCTCAN, C.P. 39011 Santander) or at any of the registries provided for in Article 134.8 of Law 5/2018, of November 22. The resolutions of the General Directorate of Fisheries and Food will be displayed on the electronic notice board of the Government of Cantabria whenever they are modified.

The business days established for the Deva, Nansa, Pas, and Campiazo river basins, agreed upon by the sector, may be the same for all of them or grouped according to exceptional circumstances. In the case of the Deva, the days must also be agreed upon between the fishers of Cantabria and Asturias.

Deadlines, weighing, and appeals

The weighing of daily catches will be carried out at any of the fish markets in Cantabria and at the Bustio fish market (Asturias). The submission of applications shall comply with Annex I of Order DES/26/2024, within a period of ten business days starting from the day following the publication of the resolution in the Official Gazette of Cantabria.

Against the resolution, which exhausts the administrative route, a contentious-administrative appeal may be filed within two months before the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Cantabria, without prejudice to the optional appeal for reversal before the regional minister within one month, in accordance with Articles 145, 147, and 149 of Law 5/2018 and Articles 123 and 124 of Law 39/2015, of October 1.

The call marks the start of a key campaign for the Cantabrian fishing and shellfish sector, which concentrates its activity in four very specific time windows and depends on the weather and the state of the rivers. The staggered calendar and the possibility of enabling alternative days seek to reconcile the conservation of the European eel with the economic viability of the fishers along the Deva, Nansa, Pas, and Campiazo basins.

Source: Official Gazette of Cantabria, no. 194, of October 8, 2026, Regional Ministry of Rural Development, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, pp. 51710-51711 (official reference: CVE-2026-7825).