Until the 25th of October, mackerel will be queen at the table of more than 40 restaurants in the Eastern Algarve, including those in Olhão, which have joined the Mackerel week, an initiative of the Algarvian Cavala Project – Valorization of Fishery Resources, of the Center for Marine Sciences (CCMAR) of the University of Algarve.
Next Friday, October 23, there will be a cooking demonstration and tasting at the Mercados de Olhão, starting at 10:30 am.
In Olhão, there are also several restaurant establishments that have joined this gastronomic week, during which visitors will have the opportunity to taste different ways of making this resource of the Algarve sea.
According to CCMAR, «the valorization of fishery resources involves increasing knowledge of the biology and ecology of the species captured intentionally or in an accessory manner. These last species, often discarded at sea, are very relevant to the common Community and national fisheries policy, and their commercial use is desired for a rational and sustainable exploitation of the oceans. Mackerel is one of the most captured species, but also one of the most rejected, in the Algarve fleet».
In this context, the CCMAR of the University of Algarve proposes to carry out studies to determine the biological characteristics and nutritional profile of mackerel and, in parallel, to promote events with a view to the dissemination of traditional and innovative recipes, whose main ingredient is mackerel.
These actions will promote and enhance this type of fishery resources, while encouraging their sustainable fishing.
A Mackerel week is one of these actions, and comes with the support of the Sotavento Algarve municipal councils, including Olhão, the Fisheries Operational Program (PROMAR) and the Sotavento do Algarve Coastal Action Group (GAC Sotavento).
The GAC Sotavento do Algarve is a partnership between public and private entities, which assumes the responsibility of implementing a development strategy in the coastal zone of the Sotavento do Algarve and has been headquartered, since its foundation, in the Municipality of Olhão.
This gastronomic week also includes the competitions Mackerel com Pinta and Mackerel com Pinta Júnior, where participants will put their painting skills to the test.
Mackerel Week is present on the internet, namely Facebook, where you can see the list of participating restaurants, as well as the rules of the painting competition.
Comments