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Blackspot bream (Pagellus bogaraveo) at auction. (Photo: A. M. Arias/ictioterm.es)
Blackspot seabream and alfonsino fishing to be limited
PORTUGAL
Wednesday, August 08, 2012, 16:10 (GMT + 9)
The Azores Islands Government intends to restrict blackspot bream (Pagellus bogaraveo) and alfonsino (Beryx splendens) catch to try to balance the stocks of both species in the waters surrounding this archipelago, admitted Marcelo Pamplona, undersecretary of Fishing.
"We define these priorities, and in that sense the regional government will present a willingness to manage bottom resource fisheries to industry partners," the official pointed out.
Pamplona attended a meeting with owners, fishermen and researchers of the University of Azores so as to analyze the situation of fisheries resources in the archipelago.
The sea bream is a bottom species with the greatest commercial value in this area.
For this application, the undersecretary proposed to gradually increase the minimum catch size, which today is 30 centimetres.
"We have had a break in fishing for bream and understand that one of the first steps we must take is to apply some restrictions to allow the renewal of the species," Pamplona explained.
As to the alfonsino, its fishing quota was consumed by late July.
The Secretary considers it necessary to propose a ban on its capture in 2013, while fishermen would be allowed to continue fishing for orange roughy, which is a species having much higher commercial value.
Pamplona also encouraged the presentation of a "new management pattern" of fisheries resources, based on minimum sizes and weights, the agency Lusa reported.
In this Portuguese region genetic research on black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo), another bottom species with high commercial value, has been planned with the participation of the University of Azores and fishing associations.
"We want to identify if the existing stock is resident in the Azores, allowing us to defend its own quota for the region and not a quota together with the continent," added Pamplona.
The great challenge of the sector is "to fish in a smarter, more sustainable and selective way," he stressed.
According to the latest available data, the value of fish catches made this year in the waters of the islands is around EUR 25 million.
By Analia Murias
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media
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