Activity has increased significantly at Torrevieja fish market in recent weeks, with thousands of kilos of sardines being landed by around twenty purse-seine vessels, mainly from Murcia and, to a lesser extent, Almería. On Wednesday alone, the fleet brought in 2,500 boxes, equivalent to around 20 tonnes. First-sale auction prices ranged between 25 and 27 euros per box, generating an estimated 60,000 euros.

The sardines have been caught off the southern Alicante coast, particularly near Guardamar, Santa Pola and around Tabarca Island, outside the protected marine reserve. The fleet has enjoyed more than a fortnight of strong catches, although sardines are known for their unpredictable movements. Boats typically leave Torrevieja at around 11pm and return to port by 7.30am.

Despite the recent boom, there are currently no locally owned purse-seine vessels operating from Torrevieja. Local fishing activity is now largely limited to managing the auction at the modern fish market opened in 2022, along with a small number of minor-art vessels. In 2024, Torrevieja ranked as Alicante province’s leading fish market by volume, with 2,325 tonnes landed, making it the second largest in the Valencian Community after Castelló de la Plana.