Report | October 1, 2025
Engines Under Control: The challenge of putting an end to fishing vessel engine power fraud in the Spanish Mediterranean
The fishing fleet in the Spanish Mediterranean has been facing a critical situation for decades that threatens its viability, both from an economic standpoint and in terms of the sustainability of marine resources. Despite an enormous effort by the fishing industry and improvements in the state of fisheries, especially since the introduction of the Multiannual Plan for Demersal Stocks in the Western Mediterranean Sea in 2019, low levels of sustainability and profitability remain alarming.
Among the factors that worsen this crisis are various irregularities, ranging from the manipulation of the selectivity of fishing gear to the sale of undeclared products. However, the most significant and common irregularity is fraud related to the power of engines installed on fishing vessels. This type of fraud not only compromises the sustainability of species but also causes serious distortions within the industry, leading to inequalities and allowing unfair competition for those who operate using engines that are significantly more powerful than are permitted by law. This study focuses on fraud detected in the trawl and purse seine fleets, two fishing methods that require high engine power to deploy and retrieve fishing gear.
Based on the analysis of 50 vessels in the Spanish Mediterranean, many irregularities have been detected, such as the manipulation of engine technical data sheets, the alteration of engine power limiters, and non-compliance with legal limits on the maximum power allowed (904 horsepower for trawlers and 455 horsepower for purse seiners since 2022).
The evidence is overwhelming: 94% of the vessels analysed appear to have fraudulent engines, with actual power far exceeding the certified power, and 20% of the vessels directly exceed the established legal power limits. In many cases, the difference is not marginal, but rather double, triple, or even up to eight times the power declared in the Fishing Fleet Register. This situation completely distorts the calculation of fishing effort, the main management tool in the Mediterranean for these vessels, and reduces the effectiveness of management and conservation measures, as the official figures seriously underestimate the real impact of fishing activity on the ecosystem.
The study is based on information obtained through interviews with fishers, port staff, and experts from the fishing industry, as well as from technical and scientific studies, and official documents obtained through requests for access to information. The findings reveal a systematic, persistent problem that is not limited to fishers but also involves other stakeholders, including the fisheries administration, engine manufacturers and installers, and certification bodies.
