Sardine fishing using the siege art will be banned for three days at the Algarve, between 6:00 pm on Saturday, June 21, and 6:00 pm on Monday, June 23, according to the Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM).
The measure applies specifically to the area of jurisdiction of the captaincies of the ports associated with the Olhosta and the Barlasces, covering the captaincies of Olhão, Faro, Tavira, Vila Real de Santo António, Lagos and Portimão. The decision aims to ensure the sustainability of the appeal and is in line with the sardine fishing management plans, one of the most important species for the Portuguese coastal fleet.
The temporary interdiction aims to contribute to the recovery of Iberian sardine stocks, which in recent years have been the subject of restriction measures due to their vulnerability. Fishing with siege art, the main technique used to capture sardines in Portugal, has been more rigorously regulated by national and European authorities.
The entity responsible for the execution of public policies in the field of fishing, security and maritime services, has been applying a set of measures to ensure the economic viability of the sector, without compromising the preservation of marine resources. The prohibition now announced is part of this equilibrium effort between exploration and conservation.
This suspension of fishing activity happens at a time when sardines is particularly valued in the national market, coinciding with the traditional popular festivities of São João and São Pedro, where the consumption of the species reaches peaks of demand.
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