<
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240618-the-octopus-algarve-fishermen-protecting-portugals-largest-reef>
'Armação de Pêra, a former fishing village turned resort town in the Algarve on
Portugal's southern coastline, is all but deserted in winter.
In the lull before summer, the wide sandy bay is empty, the cobbled streets are
clear and the restaurants are serving regulars. But in only a few months time,
the sea will bustle with boatloads of tour operators and fishermen, in search
of one of the region's most prized delicacies – octopus.
Although sardines are usually synonymous with Portugal, the country consumes
over 15,000 tonnes of octopus a year – the highest amount of any country in
Europe. The common octopus is Portugal's most lucrative seafood product in
value, with more than half of octopus landings occurring in the Algarve region.
"Octopus is the most important source of income for small-scale fishing
communities in the Algarve," says Mafalda Rangel, a fisheries researcher at the
University of Algarve. Over 90% of Algarve fishers use traps and pots to land
octopus, which could earn them a significant €6.05 ($6,49, £5.11) per kg.
However, the journey from seafloor to plate is becoming increasingly fraught.
Commercial fishing and tourism activities are putting pressure on the reef, and
although the octopus trade is not officially endangered, there are concerns
that if not protected catch may drop, as with sardines or tuna in the last two
decades.
Across the Algarve, fishers are noticing that waters once teaming with marine
life are thinning out. As their income and old way of life is jeopardised,
fishers are taking steps to safeguard their resources for the future.'
Via
Fix the News:
<
https://fixthenews.com/good-news-sleeping-sickness-chad-forests-ukraine-amur-leopards-in-siberia/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
