Public consultation to reform artisanal octopus fishing in the Comunitat Valenciana

The Department of Agriculture, Water, Livestock and Fisheries of the Generalitat Valenciana has opened for public consultation the draft modification of Decree 59/2017, regarding the management of artisanal octopus fishing. The announcement is published in the Official Gazette of the Generalitat Valenciana (DOGV) number 10451, dated September 15, 2026, in section V of announcements, subsection C) other matters, with official reference DOGV-C-2026-28026.

The consultation is opened prior to the drafting of the regulatory project, in compliance with articles 14 and 15 of Law 4/2023, of April 13, on citizen participation and the promotion of associations in the Comunitat Valenciana. The deadline for submitting contributions is fifteen calendar days, counting from the day following the publication of the announcement.

A preliminary step to the new regulation

Regional regulations require that, before drafting a project or preliminary draft of a law or regulation, information be provided to the public regarding the background, the problems intended to be solved, the necessity and opportunity for approval, the objectives, and possible alternative solutions. The goal is for citizens to be able to form a well-founded opinion on the issues addressed by the reform.

The modification of Decree 59/2017 directly affects the management of artisanal octopus fishing, an activity of significance for the Valencian artisanal fishing sector. This process allows potentially affected individuals and organizations to present their views before the final text is consolidated.

How to participate

Information regarding the process can be consulted on the Generalitat’s participation portal at the address https://gvaparticipa.gva.es/legislation/processes/745. Allegations, suggestions, or observations should be submitted, preferably, through said portal.

In order for contributions to be interpreted, evaluated and, if applicable, incorporated, they must be formulated concretely and accompanied by the reasons supporting them. The announcement is signed by Miguel Francisco Castell Rovira, Director General of Fisheries, dated August 31, 2026, in València.

Relevance for the sector

The opening of this public consultation represents an opportunity for direct participation for the Valencian artisanal fishing sector as a whole, which will be able to influence the future regulation of octopus fishing. The reform of Decree 59/2017 will determine the exploitation conditions of this resource; therefore, the contributions collected over the next fifteen days will be decisive for the final content of the regulation.

Source: Official Gazette of the Generalitat Valenciana, no. 10451, September 15, 2026, section V (Announcements), subsection C) Other matters (official reference: DOGV-C-2026-28026).