Back with free licenses for young and old

At the beginning of each season, the feeling is usually an illusion. This year should go well because the hydrological level of our rivers is good and the beds are quite clean. This year, I dare say there may be a slight increase in permits, thanks to free admission for 14-18 year olds — children under 14 can hunt without a permit when accompanied by an adult who has one — and for over-65s. On the other hand, there were problems in issuing interregional licenses from Galicia, which allow fishing in different communities, due to problems on the server with the payment platform when paying the 25 euros it costs. This meant that many Galician fishermen who have this type of permit obtained it this year on the basis of another autonomy, such as Asturias or Castilla y León. It is an incident that can also affect the count.

The season is shown with the same conditions, in terms of size and catch, as the previous one. Last year there was not much precipitation and this affected the river flows, which, fortunately, was resolved this time. As for invasive species, it is necessary to distinguish between those that live in water and those that live outside. With those in there, we have to comply with European regulations that require them to be sacrificed when caught, even by accident, because they occupy a niche of our native species and there are already some areas, in certain reservoirs, where trout are practically missing. Of those that do not live in water, we have a serious problem with cormorants because they prey at a very sensitive time.

Manuel Mouzo He is the president of the Galician Fishermen’s Association