Number of Algarve fishermen drops 56%

The number of fishermen registered in the Algarve recorded the sharpest reduction in the country between 2001 and 2017, a decrease of 56%, according to data released this week by PORDATA.

In 2017, there were 17,642 fishermen in Portugal, 25% less than in 2001 - a decrease that occurred in all regions of the country but the Algarve has been badly hit with a decrease of 56% to just 2,713 in 2017.

As for the tonnage of fish caught in the Algarve, this has decreased from 30,595 tonnes in 2002 to around a third of that value - 12,949 tonnes in 2017.

On the plus side, the Algarve continues to lead the octopus catch in Portugal, even though this too has plummeted by 39% between 2002 and 2017. Despite rising prices per kilo, the revenue generated by the sale of the octopus has decreased by 11% in the region.

Comments  

0 #8 Grotty Yotty 2019-02-28 11:12

Quoting Darcy:

Grotty yotty: can you explain how a fishing company can gain greater eu subsides by complaining ? ?

Not EU subsidies - Spanish govt. Glad to have been read.

0 #7 Darcy 2019-02-27 23:56

Grotty yotty: can you explain how a fishing company can gain greater eu subsides by complaining ? ?

+1 #6 Chip 2019-02-27 15:11

The Common Fisheries Policy.
Another chickenhead policy from the EU.

+1 #5 Grotty Yotty 2019-02-27 13:13

Don't forget the Spanish boats which constantly infringe Portuguese waters. Every day I see them raiding (raping) the sea and sea-bed in unconscienable numbers - far too many to allow natural rejuvenation.. Many boats are part of a multiple conglomerate. Then they complain and extract even greater subsidies from the (EU) state..

+3 #4 Denby 2019-02-26 18:57

The fishing industry has become a multi million euro business by a few big companies. It is unfortunate as it provided employment to a lot of people, even though it was hard and dangerous work.

-1 #3 Jack Reacher 2019-02-26 10:08

Algarve waters for too long have been overfished to satisfy the tourism trade. The coastline has been ravaged and altered by corrupt officials. Fishermen would do well to find another industry to work in.

+2 #2 AL 2019-02-26 09:14

Quoting Bit Fischhy:

You can trace my families fishing ancestry as far back as records go, i'm not in the fishing industry, my father was, many of my cousins have left, some who are still in the business are trying to get work else where, the hotel industry being the favoured choice, i see my family being reduced to paupers over the years because of the politics, we all have our theories, i won't speculate but while some are being reduced to poverty, some are becoming very wealthy instead, it's sad to see but some call it progress, the fishing industry will gradually die in this country i'm afraid and so will many fishing related trades, look at repairing fishing nets as an example, all gone.

It's the price Portugal pays for being shackled to the EU.

+3 #1 Bit Fischhy 2019-02-26 05:22

You can trace my families fishing ancestry as far back as records go, i'm not in the fishing industry, my father was, many of my cousins have left, some who are still in the business are trying to get work else where, the hotel industry being the favoured choice, i see my family being reduced to paupers over the years because of the politics, we all have our theories, i won't speculate but while some are being reduced to poverty, some are becoming very wealthy instead, it's sad to see but some call it progress, the fishing industry will gradually die in this country i'm afraid and so will many fishing related trades, look at repairing fishing nets as an example, all gone.

Refresh comments list

You must be a registered user to make comments.
Please register here to post your comments.