Socio-economics of the Algarve fisheries sector: a review
Pita,
1
1
C. ;
Marques, A.; Erzini, K.
1;
Noronha,
1
I. ;
Houlihan, D.
2;
Dinis, M. T.
1
CCMAR, Universidade do Algarve, 8000 - 117 Faro; 2Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Av., Aberdeen, AB42 2TZ, Scotland
INTRODUCTION
Portugal has the largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (approximately 1700000 Km2) of the European Community and a fishery sector that is characterised by a series of
socially and regionally relevant impacts in some communities along the coast, being an irreplaceable activity for maintaining the regional identity and providing incomes for
many families (Pinho, 1999).
The Algarve is one of the regions of the Portuguese coast were the fishing activity has a significant social impact with a big number of communities with traditions linked to and
economic dependence on fisheries or activities associated with fisheries. The Algarve coastline, south of Portugal, extends approximately for 160 km from the Guadiana estuary
at the frontier with Spain to Cabo São Vicente in the west. The town of Fuzeta is located in the Ria Formosa, a 55 km long lagoon, covering a total area of approximately 16,300
hectares (Pilkey et al., 1989) (Figure 1) and was the chosen study site for examining the socio-economic conditions of a fishing dependent region.
FISHERIES
The total landings for Portugal, in quantity and value, and by region of the mainland
in 2000 are given in Table 1. The distribution of registered fishermen and the number,
tonnage and power of the Portuguese fishing fleet by region of the Portuguese
mainland coast for the same year are given in Table 2.
Table 1. Portuguese fish production by region of the mainland in
quantity and value, in 2000.
Region
quantity (t)
Value (1000 euros)
Norte
26 995
31 676,1
Centro
16 551
20 669,2
Lisboa e V. Tejo
45 113
75 849,3
Alentejo
9 368
11 560,7
Algarve
39 321
75 488,9
Portugal
152 188
251 567,6
Note: frozen, salted and aquaculture not included
Source: INE 2001, Estatistica da Pesca
Figure 1. The Algarve coastline, with the
main towns and the Ria Formosa.
AQUACULTURE
Table 3 presents total, freshwater and marine aquaculture production by region of the
Portuguese mainland, in quantity and value, for the year 1999. The Portuguese
aquaculture production accounted for over 6 thousand tons, representing in value
over 30 million euros.
Table 2. Total registered fishermen, number, gross tonnage and engine power
of registered boats by region of the mainland coast and Portugal, in 2000
Region
Total registered
fishermen
Norte
6 094
Centro
2 526
Lisboa e V. Tejo
3 659
Alentejo
733
Algarve
6 539
Portugal
25 021
Source: INE 2001, Estatistica da Pesca
Registered boats
nº
1 849
1 217
3 026
249
2 260
10 750
tAB
19 326
28 520
30 274
1 026
13 792
111 691
kW
81 320
65 305
106 717
6 560
73 781
402 116
In 2000 Portuguese fish production was over 152 thousand tons. The value of
landings in this year was over 251 million euros. The Algarve fish production
accounted for 26% in quantity and 30% in value of the Portuguese landings.
The Portuguese fisheries are highly diverse. In the Algarve the main species landed,
in 2000, were sardine (19000t), octopus (4600t), horse mackerel (3000t) and deep
water shrimps (1000t). In value the most important species were deep water shrimp
(almost 13 million euros), octopus (almost 12.5 million euros) and sardines (almost
10 million euros).
The Algarve is the region with more registered fishermen, accounting for 26% of the
Portuguese registered fishermen in 2000.
The Portuguese fleet consists of 10.750 vessels, representing a tAB of 111.691tons, a
and a engine power of 402.116kW. The Algarve fleet, the second most representative
fleet, with 12% tAB and 18% kW, accounted for 21% of the Portuguese fleet.
The Algarve local fleet, accounts for 85% of the total number of registered boats. The
coastal category accounts for 15% and the offshore category (<1%) consists of only
one large fishing vessel.
The Algarve production accounted for 49% in quantity and 57% in value of the
Portuguese aquaculture production, clearly showing that this region is the most
important in terms of aquaculture production.
Table 3. Portuguese aquaculture production by region of the mainland, in quantity and
value, in 1999.
Region
Total
Freshwater
quantity (t) Value (1000 euros) quantity (t)
Norte
1 081
2 480,5
1 015
Centro
1 020
5 181,8
220
Lisboa e V. Tejo
702
2 855,3
23
Alentejo
288
1 859,1
Algarve
3 097
17 182,0
Portugal
6 280
30 064,6
1 270
Source: INE 2001, Estatistica da Pesca
Value (1000 euros) quantity (t)
1 988,6
66
433,3
800
96,2
679
288
3 097
2 541,5
5 010
Marine
Value (1000 euros)
491,9
4 748,5
2 759,1
1 859,1
17 182,0
27 523,1
Marine production accounted for 80% of the total aquaculture production and
shellfish represents the major part of this production. The Algarve is the most
important region in terms of shellfish production (almost all the Portuguese
production) as well as of marine fish, with the main species being sea bass, sea
bream and to a lesser extent sole.
In 1999 there were 962 licensed aquaculture units of which 938 were for marine and 24
for freshwater aquaculture. The Algarve region accounts for 71% of the aquaculture
units and for the largest area occupied by aquaculture (80%) (INE, 1999).
Available data on employment in aquaculture is scarce. Nevertheless, it is recognised
that the numbers involved in the activity are relatively small, particularly in the case of
extensive production of clams (Mendonça et al., 1992). The number of workers
employed in the fish farms varies according to the dimension of the enterprise. Small
fish farms employ 5 workers, medium dimension farms 20 to 25 workers and large
farms over 50 workers Dinis et al., 1999).
REFERENCES
Dinis, M.T.; Moreno, C.; Noronha, I. 1999. Estudo de Caracterização e Diagnóstico do sub-sector da Aquicultura Relatório Final. (Characterisation
and Diagnosis of aquaculture subsector. Final Report). University of Algarve & CESO ID2. DGPA, Lisbon. 214 p.
INE. 1999. Estatística da Pesca. Instituto Nacional de Estatística. Portugal. 96p.
INE, 2001. Estatística da Pesca 2000. Instituto Nacional de Estatística. 98p.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work is part of AQCESS project Q5RS-2000-3115, financed by the European Community.
Mendonça, A.; Cardoso, O. & Guerra, I. 1992. Regional, socio-economic study in the Fisheries sector: Portugal, continente. Commission of the
European Communities. Directorate General for Fisheries. Tecninvest. 61p.
Pinho, A. 1999. Impactos Sociais e Regionais das Pescas em Portugal. Pp: 33. In Costa, M.; Ruivo, M.; Costa, J. & Almeida, P. (Eds.). Colóquio
Pescas e Ambiente: Uma aliança para o próximo milénio. Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa. Caderno de Resumos e
Conclusões.
Pilkey, O. H.; Neal, W. J.; Monteiro, J. H.; Dias, J. M., 1989: Algarve barrier islands: a noncoastal-plain system in Portugal. J. Coast. Res. 5, 239-261