From midnight this Thursday, sardine fishing will resume in Portugal.
After four months of prohibition, vessels begin to go out to sea this morning.
A Renaissancethe president of the National Association of Siege Fishing Organizations (ANOPCERCO) indicates that fishermen decided to start the catch later, to guarantee a better quality of sardines.
Humberto Jorge explains that, in April, this species “does not have the desirable fat content for fresh consumption and for the processing industry”.
Every year, you only know what the sardines will be like when fishing starts, but ANOPCERCO has expectations for this year. The representative says that, like the previous year, sardines “are abundant on our coast”.
“There are still doubts regarding the quality of the fish this season and its size. These are the factors that will later influence the price”, he explains.
With Spain competing in this market, Humberto Jorge explains how to choose a sardine in good condition and ensure that it was caught in Portugal: “If it’s still shiny, if the eyes aren’t bloody, that’s what we call a sardine in a suit”.
“The greater the shine, the fresher it is. If you make sure that the sardines come from Portuguese fish auctions, the freshness, from the outset, is guaranteed”, he adds.
