The ministers responsible for fishing closed this Tuesday the quota agreement for 2024. Minister Maria do Céu Antunes highlights an “increase” in the quota for certain species in particular, which represents an estimated commercial increase of “23 million euros” for the Portuguese Fleet.
Portugal guarantees a further increase in fishing opportunities for species such as monkfish, hake, rooster, black scabbard and horse mackerel. Fishing opportunities for cod and whiting have also increased in waters managed by regional fisheries organizations or established in consultation with third countries.
The minister described the balance of the agreement for the Portuguese fishing fleet as “globally positive”, “with significant increases”, which represents “an increase of 23 million euros in commercial value.”
For hake, the quota increased by 12%, from 4,645 tonnes in 2023 to 5,096 tonnes in 2024. The monkfish quota experienced an increase of 7%, from 689 tonnes to 739 tonnes. For rooster, the quota increased by 11%, from 96 tons to 107 tons.
The black scabbard increased by 9%, increasing the quota from 2,106 tons to 2,300 tons. The share of horse mackerel increased by 5%, going from 117,126 tons in 2023 to 123,295 tons in 2024.
In meetings with regional fishing organizations, Portugal assured a “92% increase in the cod quota in Canada’s Exclusive Economic Zone and a 25% increase in the albacore quota, “vital” for the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira, highlighted Maria do Céu Antunes, also highlighting the negotiations with Norway that resulted in a 9% increase in the cod quota for 2024.
“Despite the inflexibility of the Commission, which maintained the initial proposal of a 20% reduction in crayfish, it was possible to mitigate the Commission’s proposal for a 33% reduction in sole to 17%, values that allow The Portuguese fleet will have room for both species,” says the note from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
“For Raia Curva, in addition to maintaining the quota of 15 tons for Portugal, an additional scientific quota of 50 tons was secured,” said the minister.
Portugal presented a proposal “to extend compensation for increased production costs resulting from the current geopolitical instability.”
Maria do Céu Antunes highlighted that “the proposal was well received by the majority of Member States”, which are now awaiting the response from the European Commission.
Source: TSF
