Socialist deputy Miguel Freitas alerted the Government to the sharp drop in catches of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) on the Portuguese coast, with particular impact on the Algarve region, having questioned the Executive about the intention to prohibit the use of live bait in this art, since its introduction will have caused the overexploitation of that species.
Miguel Freitas, who met this week with five Fishermen's Associations in the Algarve, defends the extinction, as of the 4th of April, of the derogation to article 8 of Ordinance No. 1102-D/2000, of 22 November, which determines the use of the green crab as bait in cage traps, taking into account that its introduction caused an excessive capture of octopus and could lead to the extinction of the said crustacean, as well as serious changes in its habitat, namely in the Ria Formosa.
In an exhibition with the minister of Agriculture, Sea, Environment and Spatial Planning, the deputy and regional leader of the PS points out that the common octopus represents about 40% of the national catches of the species, being also very important in the gastronomy of the Country, for which it requested clarification from the Government on possible measures for its recovery within a maximum period of two years.
According to indicators provided to the Algarve Fishermen's Associations by Docapesca, catches per unit of effort (known as CPUE), which remained stable until 2007, have since then decreased by around 70%.
According to these data, in 2008 4.313.849 kilos of octopus were captured, with a reduction in 2011 to 1.179.521 kilos.
Recognizing the difficulty of applying a closed season, as this is a species with exceptional incubation characteristics and its capture in the Algarve results from a diversified set of fishing gears, the Socialist Parliamentarian wants to know if the Executive intends to implement a period of veda in the most likely period of reproduction and growth of juveniles or a closure is advanced in the most likely period of octopus spawning.
In the presentation to the Minister of Agriculture and the Sea, the PS leader also warns of the "lack of management of this resource, especially in the Algarve region", as well as the violations of legislation that have occurred since the introduction of live bait, as it allows for a greater volume of catches compared to traditional baits, having questioned whether the Government will sensitize the authorities to the need to increase the inspection of octopus fishing and whether it considers relevant the elaboration of an in-depth study on this fishing art in the Algarve.
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