In Portugal, Sardine fishing, also known as the ‘queen of barbecues’, will resume from May 4th, allowing this fish to return to commercial circuits and restaurants, after a period of ban. The decision was formalized through an order published in the Official Gazette. The resumption of activity is framed by a set of rules and limits that aim to regulate capture and guarantee the sustainability of the resource throughout the year.
According to the news agency, the campaign begins with a global discharge limit set at 33,446 tons for the national fleet. According to the same source, this value is part of a total catch of 50,294 tons established for the Iberian Peninsula, within the scope of shared management between Portugal and Spain.
Distribution of the quota between operators
The majority of the national quota, corresponding to 32,944 tons, will be allocated to vessels integrated into producer organizations. The remaining 502 tons are reserved for non-integrated vessels, representing around 1.5% of the total available.
The same source mentions that, with the reopening, daily catch and discharge limits will be applied, differentiated according to the size of the vessels. Boats longer than 16 meters will have an initial limit of 5,625 kilos per day, a value that will be revised upwards from June 1st.
Adjustments planned throughout the year
The diploma also provides for the possibility of changing these limits throughout the campaign, depending on the evolution of catches and the available scientific assessment. It should be noted that the General Directorate of Natural Resources, Security and Maritime Services may intervene whenever justified.
The agency writes that temporary closures of fishing areas may be determined if a high presence of juvenile sardines is identified. This measure applies when specimens are less than 13 centimeters, seeking to avoid negative impacts on the renewal of the species.
Additional restrictions on daily operation
The order includes other rules, such as a ban on fishing on national holidays. The obligation to unload in a single port per day and the prohibition of transferring fish between auctions is also established. The reopening of fishing will have a direct impact on the activity of several ports, including those located in Acre. Sines, Porto Covo and Vila Nova de Milfontes are part of the unloading network covered by the campaign, being linked to the Sesibal producer organization.
According to Lusa, these rules are part of the multi-annual sardine management plan, developed jointly by Portugal and Spain for the period between 2021 and 2026. This framework defines exploration criteria and protection measures based on regular scientific assessments. The reopening of fishing will allow sardines to gradually return to markets and restaurants, after the period of restrictions.
The availability of the product will be directly dependent on the established limits and the pace of catches. Note that the activity will begin at midnight on May 4th, from which point authorized vessels will be able to resume catching. The reactivation of the campaign marks the beginning of another annual cycle of exploration of this resource, subject to rules defined to guarantee a balance between economic activity and conservation.
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