The crews aboard several purse seine boats working the estuaries of Vigo and Pontevedra have been witnessing something remarkable at sea for days. A shipowner recalled last week, I’ve never seen that in my life, the sheer quantity of xouba in February, and at legal size. Sardines have begun to dominate the estuaries, often leaving room for horse mackerel, which acts as a refuge for those unable to make the northern journeys toward xarda or anchovy expeditions. Even with the difficulties facing the fleets before the pandemic, sardines have recovered to a level that has surprised many. The governments of Spain and Portugal are signaling an intent to raise the catch limit again for this year, targeting more than 50,000 tonnes for both nations.
Maria do Céu Antunes, the Minister of Agriculture and Food in Portugal, spoke during a visit to the A Poveira canning factory in Póvoa de Varzim. She conveyed to the media a confidence that she could persuade the European Commission, which oversees cross-border decisions on this species that plummeted in 2017. There was an expectation of positive news in April. The plan is to set quotas that exceed 50,000 tonnes in total for Portugal and Spain, which translates to more than 30,000 tonnes for Portugal on this shared stock. The move is expected to bolster the fishing and processing industries by adding value along the value chain.
If the agreement advances, it would imply an increase of at least 10 percent compared with the 45,000 tonnes observed in 2022. The minister highlighted that the Portuguese fleet would benefit most from this allocation, leaving roughly one third of the shared quota for Spain, distributed across the Cantabrian Northwest region and the Bay of Cádiz. The aim is to ensure a balanced distribution that sustains both shores of the Atlantic corridor.
The campaign, which began in Spanish waters the prior year, was accelerated by one month at the industry’s request. Spanish purse seiners had 14,827 tonnes allocated, with 8,668 tonnes earmarked for registered vessels in the Northwest Cantabrian Sea. In addition, 381,074 kilograms were reserved for landed xeito artisanal fishermen, who are currently taking full advantage of the abundant xouba in the Rías Baixas. Galician markets have already seen 6,586 kilograms of sardines sold this year at an average price of 3.63 euros per kilogram.
Deals
Industry observers note that stock levels and biological benchmarks had been low for some time, which reduced catches. Yet, the fleet has adopted new measures, and the current abundance is providing a stable foundation for continued fishing activity for the foreseeable future, according to sources cited by Lusa. The Portuguese authorities aim to secure both immediate catch and long-term sustainability, ensuring steady prey for the processing sector. These developments come as the industry eyes growth in nearby markets and export routes.
During the cannery visit, the Minister also spoke about industry collaboration. There is a push to reach an agreement with the country’s canning sector that would require companies to allocate a portion of their catch specifically to processing facilities. The goal is to see the framework established quickly and effectively, enabling smoother operation across the supply chain. The discussion also touches on a forthcoming national certification process for sardines that Galician purse-seine owners’ associations are supporting.
Fleet from Pontevedra to the Cantabrian Sea
With stocks of sardines abundant and horse mackerel scarce, Galician waters are a challenging landscape for the purse-seiner fleet, which numbers around 146 vessels. Boats leave harbour, yet they often return with limited prey. The renewed coastal seasons for xarda and anchovy offer a breath of relief for vessels that can maneuver effectively as seasonality shifts. A number of fleets are choosing to travel from Pontevedra toward the Cantabrian Sea, either already in the fishing area or preparing to depart this week.
Both campaigns are shaping up to be pivotal for this fleet in recent years, given the severe scarcity of horse mackerel along the Galician coast. The region VIIIc, stretching from Fisterra to the Basque Country, is witnessing substantial sardine catches that redefine seasonal patterns and fleet strategies. The broader implication is a potential uptick in activity and market responsiveness as fleets adapt to prevailing conditions.