The owners and operators of maritime-tourist vessels licensed for sport fishing are questioning why licenses are granted to only 10 vessels, despite the presence of other equally legalized, active, and compliant vessels. This concern has been formally raised to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Directorate-General of Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM).
Furthermore, they express discontent over the exclusivity of licenses issued to vessels registered in 2024, excluding other operators. The fishermen criticize the “lack of public and transparent selection criteria” and further question the equity of the process managed by the DGRM.
For these operators, the absence of transparency and rationalization infringes on the principles of equality and good faith.
Additionally, the quota allocated for sport fishing of bluefin tuna is limited to half a ton for the total licensed vessels.
“This quota is intended exclusively for the registration of accidental deaths during sport fishing, not representing any commercial exploitation nor significant impact on national quotas,” they clarified.
An adult bluefin tuna typically weighs between 220 and 250 kilograms (kg).
According to a DGRM ordinance, which outlines conditions for this type of fishing and management measures for the current year, bluefin tuna is subject to a national fishing plan communicated to the European Commission.
The plan considers the fishing opportunities allotted to Portugal, regional specificities, and the different components of this fishery.
This decree specifies that the maximum number of maritime-touristic operators authorized to capture bluefin tuna is ten, with priority given to those “who were authorized in 2024” and have reapplied for authorization this year.
In responses sent to some operators who applied for a license this year, the DGRM only stated that the number of granted authorizations “is exhausted,” hence “no further authorizations will be issued this year.”
The group of operators and owners is seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes, or representatives from the relevant ministry.
These professionals are also demanding a review of the DGRM’s aforementioned ordinance, a suspension of its effects pending reevaluation, a public release of the selection criteria adopted by DGRM, and a justification for the exclusion of legalized vessels “that have been active for longer, as well as newly registered vessels that represent significant investments in the sector and fully comply with legal requirements.”
Furthermore, they request that licenses be granted to all vessels fulfilling legal requirements.
“We are not claiming exceptional benefits, but rather equality of treatment and clarity in the criteria applied, respecting legality, local economic activity, and the sustainability of sport fishing,” they emphasized.
The DGRM did not respond to a request for comment.
