Bill would allow hunting and fishing invasive species in old areas

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill responds to a 2016 Spanish Supreme Court ruling that banned hunting and fishing several species listed as invasive exotic species, with negative economic effects in rural towns and on sectors such as hunting, sport fishing and some food companies.
2. The bill would allow hunting and fishing these species in the areas they occupied before 2007, as a way to control or eradicate them. Outside those areas, sport hunting and fishing would be banned to discourage illegal releases.
3. It would also define zoogenetic resources, regulate aquaculture under a 2007 European regulation, and allow releases of rainbow trout only with sterile specimens, to protect the common trout.
4. In addition, it would create an exceptional mechanism to lift some bans on listed species when there is a first-order public interest and guarantees of no harm to native biodiversity. The law would take effect the day after its publication in the official state gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).

Who it affects

• Hunters and sport fishers: They could hunt or fish invasive species within areas occupied before 2007, but not outside them.
• Autonomous communities (comunidades autónomas): They would manage the mapping of those areas and could create their own catalogs of invasive species.
• Rural municipalities: The negative economic impact caused by the ban on these sport and tourism activities would be reduced.
• Aquaculture and food companies: Their activity with listed species, such as rainbow trout or red crab, would be regulated with more legal certainty.

Words worth knowing

Especies exóticas invasoras (invasive exotic species)

Species from outside the area that, once introduced, threaten local species, habitats or ecosystems.

Recursos zoogenéticos (zoogenetic resources)

Animal species used, or that can be used, to produce food or for farming and livestock.

Acuicultura (aquaculture)

Raising aquatic animals and plants, such as fish, for use or consumption.

Catálogo (catalog)

Official list of species. Including a species in it brings bans on possessing, transporting and trading it.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries