At the signing of contracts for the supply of Portuguese sardines between the Propeixe fleet (Matosinhos) and the national canning industry, held today in the city of Porto, a government official expressed confidence that certification will be achieved by the summer.
“We are already in the final stretch. Several criteria have to be evaluated. But I believe that by the end of June or July, we should have the certification underway (…) so that our products gain added value, which will certainly enhance the product’s price,” she stated.
The MSC certification is a way to demonstrate that a fishery adheres to the best international practices for sustainable fishing. Fish and seafood from certified fisheries can display the MSC blue label, assuring consumers that the products they purchase are sustainable.
Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar explained that for the 2025 sardine fishing quota, Portugal received 66.5% of the Iberian quota, an increase of approximately five thousand tons.
“We’re talking about more than 16% compared to last year. These are very positive numbers for the sector,” she added.
The contract signed today, securing the second year of partnership between the fishing and canning industries in Matosinhos, increases the involvement of processing companies to eight, revealed José Maria Freitas, president of the National Association of Canned Goods Manufacturers.
“Some industries that were not involved last year have joined, indicating that all are starting to see the importance and benefit of this association. This year is very special for us and for the Portuguese sardine because we are in the process of MSC certification. As of today, only one sardine in Europe is certified, which is the English sardine,” he said.
The businessman highlighted that the MSC certification “will be a tremendous added value,” which is why the 2025 contracts “already reflected a significant added value for production, as compared to previous years” with a price increase “of more than 10%.”
Regarding the quota for 2025, José Maria Freitas hopes that the “industry and sales allow for this percentage to be maintained, as it provides a significant added value in the distribution of sardines, compared to the Spanish.”
From the shipowners’ side, Agostinho da Mata, president of Propeixe, emphasized that the contract signed today “has a very stabilizing effect on fishing,” as it ensures that “half of what the boats bring to shore is sold at a fixed price, which immediately guarantees them income.”
“The first fish they unload must be sold at auction,” he explained.
“We will be able to fish five thousand tons more than last year. We will manage to work a bit longer. Therefore, these are all good news,” noted the shipowner, explaining the social aspect of the partnership’s success through the continued presence of fishermen onboard.
According to Agostinho da Mata, the fishermen “only get paid when they fish, and when there is stability and fish, this is a way for them to stay on the boats.”
“It’s a social issue. We have to fish and sell well so that everyone earns enough. Life is not easy for anyone, much less for the fishermen. Their lives are quite hard. This is a concern and our duty. We must employ all good strategies to stabilize the sector,” he added.
