Good fishing management should be carried out with quality and sustainability, says Regional Director
The Regional Director for Fisheries stated that "quality fishing and the respect for the sustainability of resources should be the basis of good management," emphasizing that value generation of fish products is "a priority" set by the Regional Government.
Luís Rodrigues spoke in Lagoa, S. Miguel Island, at the end of "Fishing on the Island," an initiative held under the Sea Flavours Festival. On the occasion, he pointed out that this initiative "falls within the measures implemented by the Government towards the generation of value of fish products," adding that it involved the participation of "more than 1,000 people" on several islands.
"The 'Fishing on the Island' concept intends to link a fish product to the identity of each island and included the organisation of small forums for discussion, involving research, management, production and the restaurant sector," said the Regional Director. In addition to fishing institutions, the initiative is also directed to other local entities, "promoting fish products while dignifying the fishing industry and community."
Ray is a species that begins to emerge in the cuisine of Lagoa. In this context, the Regional Directorate for Fisheries organised in conjunction with Lagoa City Council, the Bom Porto Fishers' Association and the Azores Fisheries Federation a space for reflection and debate, open to the community, which brought together researchers, managers, producers and chefs. This event culminated in the tasting of Ray dishes prepared by a young trainee chef from the Tourism and Hotel School.
Last year, 61 tonnes of Ray were unloaded, of which 35 tonnes on São Miguel Island, and sold an average price of two Euros.
"This is a low commercial value species, so it falls under the species that we have been promoting over the last two years," said the Regional Director for Fisheries.
The overall sales value of this species stood at 94 thousand Euros in the Azores in 2018, reaching 71 thousand Euros on the island of São Miguel.