Like so many coastal fisheries, the gamba roja was sustainable when fishing was limited to small boats that stuck fairly close to the coast.

Although a number of reasons for the decline have been cited, anglers believe that over-exploitation by coastal fisheries plays a large part.

Special efforts have been made to promote extensive and intensive inland fish farming, modernize coastal fisheries, and encourage deep-sea fishing through joint ventures.

Fortunately, northwesterly winds blew the 60by100 nmi oil slick offshore, and coastal fisheries and beaches were spared the worst.

Coastal fisheries had smaller catches than northern sea fisheries in 1986 and 1987.