Portugal's fleet lands 35% more fish in the first quarter

fishingNorthSeaThe Portuguese fishing fleet has significantly increased its catches in the first three months of the year, especially in March.

The monthly statistical report from the Government states that landings increased by 35% in the months from January to March, 2019.

Algarve mega-developments audited

salgadoscrowdsDevelopment projects in the Algarve, that are under construction or being started and which have been subject to an environmental impact assessment, are being audited.

This process is designed to verify that developers have been following the environmental rules.

2013 'Swaps' blunder - no case to answer

albuquerque1In 2013, in the midst of the financial crisis, alarm bells sounded when it was discovered that some public companies - such as Carris, Metro de Lisboa, Refer and Metro do Porto - had contracted ‘swaps’ with Santander Totta.

This complex financial instrument, a form of bizarre gamble to cater for possible interest rate rises, backfired badly when interest rates fell to historic lows, costing the companies millions in additional interest payments at upto 200%.

Electricity bills in Portugal are the most expensive in the EU

edpPylonMore than half of Portuguese electricity bills are for taxes and fees.

The country leads the EU ranking of prices when adjusted for purchasing power.
 

Portugal 'is living on water it does not have'

LagoasBrancasSmall“Portugal is living on water that it does not have," according to the Association for Nature Portugal (ANP).

"Citizens, companies, farmers and the State must commit to the sustainable use of water in a country that is affected by water shortages and where this is expected to worsen in the near future," said the association.

Suspected pedophilie detained at Lisbon Airport

handcuffA suspected paedophile, wanted by the authorities in Germany, has been stopped at Lisbon airport and detained.

The man arrived in Portugal on a flight from Dakar, Senegal, but SEF border control staff picked up the fact that there was an International Arrest Warrant in his name and detained him, pending deportation.

Zoomarine expansion into Ecological Reserve supported by Silves Council

zoomarineSilves council has suspended its municipal Municipal Master Plan (PDM) specifically to allow building work on an area of land adjacent to Zoomarine to enable the expansion of the theme park.

This decision was taken by the Council on Monday, May 20, and those interested now have a period of public participation that runs until June 3.

TAP celebrates 100 aircraft for the first time in its history

tapTAP Air Portugal, the leading airline from the UK to Portugal, has marked a historic point in its 74-year history. With the arrival of another A330neo – CS-TUI, which has been named King Afonso Henriques – the company has 100 aircraft in its fleet for the first time with 71 new aircraft due to arrive by 2025.

The new airplanes have allowed TAP to open new routes with the airline continuing to grow in Brazil, a market in which TAP retains market leadership in connections to Europe and where there has been a 22.8% increase in the number of passengers between 2015 and 2018.