THE ORGANISATION OF THE MOGAN FISHING SECTOR

Fishing in Mogan is organised around its two harbours, Playa de Mogán and Arguineguín. Each harbour has a fishermen’s association that supports its members in their work at sea.

The guilds are public law entities, non-profit organisations chaired by a Chief Captain, who is democratically elected by its members. The building where they are based is equipped with everything necessary to facilitate their members’ fishing activities, as well as the conservation of their catch and subsequent sale of the fish.

The fishing areas corresponding to both guilds are clearly defined, and there has always been total respect for the assigned areas.

The fishing boats based in the Port of Arguineguín operate in waters located to the south-west of the island, specifically between Punta de Morro Besudo and Cabo Descojonado. The boats based at Mogán Beach focus their activity between Puerto Rico and Cabo Descojonado.

At certain times of the year, vessels from both guilds may also fish in waters off the coasts of Arinaga and Melenara.

There are some differences in the fishing gear used by each guild, depending on the characteristics of the marine environment in which they fish.

The fishing gear used by the artisanal fleet of Playa de Mogán includes pots, longlines, rods and lines. Live bait is used to fish for tuna, which is obtained using a purse seine that allows species that move in schools or shoals to be caught.

For their part, the fishermen of the Arguineguín fishermen’s association use this purse seine system not only to obtain live bait, but also to catch mackerel, sardines and horse mackerel for sale and subsequent human consumption.

The fishermen’s associations not only collaborate with their members to facilitate their work, but also act as spokespersons before public bodies, such as the European Union, in defence of the collective rights of the fishing sector.