Economy

Octopus co-management committee in the Algarve has already been launched

By • October 11, 2023 - 14:12

Octopus generated 46 million euros at auctions on the continent

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The process of creating the octopus co-management committee in the Algarve was formally launched, after 51% of fishermen with licenses for these arts in the region agreed to the implementation of this procedure, announced the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

The octopus, a species whose World Day was celebrated on October 8th, generated 46 million euros in the continent's auctions, with the creation of this committee being another guarantee for its sustainability.

«Representing more than half of the 46 million euros generated in auctions on the continent, the octopus assumes a special preponderance in the Algarve», adds the Ministry's note.

Thus, fishing for this mollusc follows, in this Algarve region, «the formal steps that were traced, in a pioneering way, by the Percebe Harvesting Comanagement in the Berlengas Natural Reserve, whose committee was created and officially installed on March 28, 2022».

The procedure for creating the octopus committee arises as a consequence of the results of the ParticipiPESCA project, whose work, relating to the implementation of co-management, received public support under the Mar2020 program, in the order of 230 thousand euros.

For two years, the project involved 15 Fishermen's Associations and Producer Organizations, representing more than 700 fishermen from across the Algarve region, as well as other entities linked to fishing, such as the administration, scientific community, non-governmental organizations and civil society. .

Highlighting the importance of co-management systems, the Minister of Agriculture and Food highlighted that «the sustainability of marine resources is a priority for the Portuguese government. And, for this reason, we work continuously with fishing professionals, with territorial agents, with academia and with citizens, always with a view to safeguarding ecosystems and renewing stocks, as well as guaranteeing the fair income of our fishermen and the viability of the activity».
«This work, which we are all proud of, puts Portugal at the forefront of participatory and sustainable fisheries management at European level», added Maria do Céu Antunes.
For her part, Rita Sá, Oceans and Fisheries Coordinator at ANP|WWF (Associação Natureza Portugal | World Wide Fund for Nature), explained that, «with the creation of the co-management committee, we will all be arm in arm in building the processes for regulating, monitoring and inspecting octopus fishing in the Algarve».

The octopus fishing management plan will analyze topics such as the closed season for the species, the excess of fishing gear at sea, communication between associations, as well as the need for its valorization and supervision.

 



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