The octopus fishing plan in the Algarve, which aims to ensure the sustainability and appreciation of the species, was approved by the government and has already entered into force, having been published Monday in Diário da República.
According to Ordinance No. 78/2025/1, the plan proposed by the Executive Octopus Cogestion Committee (Octopus vulgaris) in the Algarve, “aims to promote sustainable exploitation, protect youth and ensure the” stocks “and comes into force the day after its publication.
The preparation of the document involved 10 meetings of the Committee’s Executive Committee, “the following commitments were collectively established: the management objectives; The organization of the management plan and the measures to be implemented to fulfill the management objectives ”, is referred to in the ordinance.
The plan includes the definition of defense periods, the limitation of vessel captures and the regulation of fishing arts, providing for a capture monitoring system and a reinforcement of inspection actions to combat illegal fishing.
The document intends to ensure compliance with the rules with the effective control of the number of fishing arts “contributing to a balanced ecosystem and an attractive profitable and sustainable activity for young people.”
At the same time, it is highlighted, it is intended to value the octopus, presenting it as “a local product of excellence captured/exploited in a sustainable way”.
The Ordinance defines that the management plan will have a term of five years, being automatically renewed for an equal period if there is no new plan approved.
The Executive Committee of the Octopus Cogestion Committee in the Algarve will have to submit, at the end of the end, an evaluation report to the previous plan, and must submit to the approval of any proposals for changes to the document.
Octopus’ fishing is particularly relevant in the Algarve region, where is the largest national fleet dedicated to the fishing of this resource distributed by 10 registration ports, represented by 17 fishermen associations and a producer organization.
The common octopus, whose capture is mainly performed using cage and shelter (reports) traps, is an important species, not only in terms of weight discharged, but in terms of first sale value.
According to the ordinance published Monday in Diário da República, in 2023 the arranges of octopus in the Algarve correspond to 38.5% of the total octopus unloaded in mainland Portugal, and 40.2% of the total first sale of this species generated at national level.
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