Octopus’ fishing will have an annual period of defense in the Algarve, between September 15 and October 14, established in a decree published on Wednesday in the Diário da República (DR) and which came into force the next day
Ordinance No. 55/2025/1 “delimit” the period in which the defense and the area in which “the capture, on board, landing and marketing of octopus is prohibited (octopus vulgaris)”, which corresponds to the entire Algarve coast, from “the parallel that passes through the river of Seixa (north) to the mouth of the Guadiana River (Este)”.
The measure also includes “the non-marine interior areas”, covers the entire area that goes “up to the limit of the exclusive economic zone (EEE)” and prevents fishing during the month of defense with “all commercial fishing arts”, according to the ordinance, which comes into force the day after its publication on Thursday.
Body that are captured must be “immediately returned to the sea, between September 15 and October 14, each year, in the area corresponding to the entire length of Costa do Algarve”, determines the ordinance. “Decree-Law No. 73/2020, of September 23, provides, through articles 13 to 18, the creation of cogestion committees through which the principle of mutual collaboration is promoted, the shared management of living resources and the necessary means to capture and economic use,” can be read in the Republic Diary. The diploma also points out that the “publication of Ordinance No. 84/2024/1 of 6 March created the Octopus Cogestion Committee (Octopus vulgaris) in the Algarve, establishing the fishing and area to which it applies, approving the statutes by which it governs”.
“Considering the scientific data available, it was included in the Plory Plan for the Algarve Fishing A Proposed Octopus Proposal (Octopus vulgaris) in the Algarve, which aims to ensure the protection of the species in the area concerned, during the defined period, of all fishing activities, including those who have not covered by the octopus cogesto and playful fishing committee,” he justifies.
Based on this legislation, the government, through the Secretary of State for Fisheries, Claudia Monteiro de Aguiar, approved on 21 February the published ordinance, which establishes the defense for capturing the octopus in the Algarve.
The prohibition of octopus capture also covers playful fishing throughout the geographical area delimited in the concierge, states the articulate, which also interdicts the sale of fresh octopus in the fishing posts of.
The period of defense may be “anticipated or postponed” based on “adequate scientific basis” and “by decision by consensus of the General Assembly of the Octopus Fishing Committee in the Algarve”, also establishes the Ordinance. The decision on anticipation or postponement “must be known at least two months in advance over the start date of the proposed defense period,” he said.
“Any change to the defense period established in point 1 will only become effective by disclosure through the official DGRM page [Direção-Geral de Recursos Naturais]and should also be disclosed through the maritime authority with jurisdiction in the area and, therefore, from the official page of the Octopus Fishing Cogestion Committee ”, stipulates the published diploma. MHC // MAD
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