“After two days of marathon, we have a positive agreement”, said the minister, highlighting that “the fishing possibilities are greater than the catches” that Portugal had.
Portugal reached a positive agreement for fishing opportunities in 2026, after a marathon two days of negotiations, having notably reduced the cuts for sole and resolved those for seabream.
“After two days of marathon, we have a positive agreement”, said the minister, highlighting that “the fishing possibilities are greater than the catches” that Portugal had, which “means that there is predictability and stability”.
With regard to seabream, a species of great commercial importance for the Azores, Portugal achieved a 12% increase in the national quota for 2027 and which will be partially transposed to 2026, which has a 3% cut, using the interannual flexibility mechanism.
With regard to sole, the European Commission had proposed a 28% reduction, which was eventually set at 9%.
Solutions were also found for monkfish, said the Secretary of State for Fisheries, Salvador Malheiro, with the 1% cut (Brussels had advanced 2%) being compensated with quota exchanges with Spain.
The black scabbardfish is another species that was negotiated with France to compensate for the 55% reduction, which affects the Sesimbra area.
In return, Portugal transfers hake and pollack catches to Madrid and Paris.
“We have a very big problem here with black scabbardfish, but we already have this guarantee from France that allows us to have another 150 tons, but more important than that there is the commitment between the two countries that throughout the year this reinforcement can happen several times”, said Salvador Malheiro.
For cod, a total of 3,506 tonnes, plus 800 tonnes, are guaranteed in Newfoundland, Canada, with the results of the European Commission’s negotiations with Norway still lacking.
European Union Fisheries Ministers reached an agreement this morning on the total allowable catches and the respective national quotas, after two days of debates and a marathon from Friday night to Saturday.
