The tradition of "Peixe Seco" (Dry fish), drying the fish in excess, is very old in this land of fishermen. It arose from the need to conserve fish as long as possible, to guarantee the livelihood of families when it was scarce. Nazaré, Portugal, 2023. Photo Credit: Luis Diaz Devesa/Getty Images
Environment PortugalHand-in-Hand Efforts to Save Beloved Octopus
Local fishers in the Algarve, Portugal, are elaborating and enforcing two new projects to preserve the country’s largest rocky reef, home to 70% of the region’s indigenous species, including the iconic octopus.
“Co-management is an innovative model,” explains Rita Sá from WWF Portugal. “In the beginning [the fishers] were sceptical of co-management. Now we have fishermen exchanging ideas with scientists. They’re understanding the rules, why we need to have limits in the fishery, and the biology of the resources.”
A new model is in development, including fishermen who will have an equal say in their futures and protecting ocean species on which their livelihoods depend. The two projects are a new Marine Protected Area (MPA) and a co-management committee. Portugal’s first MPA – Recife do Algarve Marine Natural Park – was created in 2021, and it was visualized and designed by locals, protecting 156 km2 of sea, including a 20-km no-fishing zone to give wildlife a chance to replenish. The co-management model was approved in early 2024 thanks to the support of more than 75% of license holders – or over 700 fishermen – in the Algarve. With the two projects happening simultaneously, the country’s resources are better dealt with and managed.
