Portugal is a maritime country where thousands of people engage in recreational fishing. This activity is of great social and economic importance and can also have a significant impact on marine resources. It is therefore essential to collect reliable and comparable data on catches, fishing effort and associated biological, social and economic aspects.
CCMAR is part of an international working group (Working Group on Recreational Fisheries Surveys – WGRFS) that brings together experts in recreational fishing from several European Union member states, as well as Norway, the USA and the United Kingdom. Together, they work to plan and coordinate the collection of data on marine recreational fishing, intending to support stock assessments carried out by ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea).
Without data, there can be no effective management.
Being part of this group allows us to ensure that Portugal plays an active role in gathering information and making informed decisions at European level.
In the first week of June, CCMAR had the privilege of hosting the annual meeting of this working group at the University of Algarve. During the meeting, there was an opportunity to discuss European Commission policies that will directly influence the future of recreational fishing in Portugal and across Europe.
CCMAR would like to thank the University of Algarve for providing promotional material and the Municipality of Olhão for generously offering a boat trip on the Ria Formosa, which allowed participants to experience the natural and cultural wealth of our region up close. This moment, which stood out as one of the highlights of the meeting, provided a memorable experience of conviviality and sharing in one of the most emblematic settings in the Algarve.
