The Ria Formosa is situated in the Algarve in the south of Portugal to the east of Faro, and a small part west of Faro, with a total area of 17.000 ha (Figure 1). The Ria Formosa is a shallow lagoon. Towards the sea, it is limited by a non-continuous belt of sandy dunes formed by two peninsulas and five barrier islands that separate the lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean. Six inlets allow good exchange of the water with the sea. 50-75% of the water mass is exchanged each tidal cycle. The entire water body is sheltered with an average depth of 3 m. The Ria includes habitats such as salt marshes, mud flats, sand banks and dunes interspersed by a branched system of channels, some of which are navigable. More than 50% of the area consists of intertidal flats. The intertidal flats are largely covered by Seagrass and Spartina. 90% of the Ria Formosa area is listed as a Natural Park (1987), Ramsar Site, Special Protection Area (EU Wild Birds directive) and Special Area of Conservation (EU Habitats Directive) (Michler, 2003).
5 During completion of this report the Halibut fishery described in this chapter actually acquired the MSC
Figure 1 Map of Ria Formosa (source: Asmus, 2000).
Type of fishery or culture
A variety of species is exploited in different manners: bivalve culture, finfish culture, fishing by gear and gathering/colleting of invertebrates. The Ria Formosa has a long history of bivalve harvesting, especially of clams (Ruditapes decussates). 80% of Portugal’s mollusc fishery is harvested in the Ria Formosa (Coelho et al 2002, Michler, 2003). Around 20% of the total area of Ria Formosa is occupied by on-growing banks of R. decussates, that are cultured throughout the entire lagoon and are the most important commercial species in the area (Coelho et al 2002). Other species of significance include the clam Ruditapes romboides, Spisula solida, cockle, razor shells (Ensis) and oysters (Crassostrea angulata and Ostrea edulis) (Coelho et al 2002, Michler, 2003). Bivalves are cultured in lots but also manually collected on the intertidal flats.
There are 1319 licenses for bivalve culture lots with an area of around 450 ha (Michler, 2003). Many lots are not larger than 50 x 50 m. The lots are well maintained and weeds are removed. The lots are used by single persons organised in cooperatives using manual methods for seeding and harvesting. Seed is collected from natural banks and “planted” in the lots (stock husbandry). The annual harvest of this bivalve is about 3000 tons per year. Average bivalve production is 0.5 kg/m-2 (Michler, 2003).
Much of the finfish farming is carried out in converted saltpans or salinas where fish production depends on the benthic organisms present. Total area for finfish culture is around 100 ha and there are 9 license holders (Michler, 2003). Main species are seabass and seabream. The main water reservoir of the salinas and the extensive aquaculture ponds behave like small lagoons where there are one or more openings to a tidal channel. The yield of fish (in culture ponds which have water exchange with the estuary) is in excess of 22-25 g/m2 (Gamito, 1997). Gamito (1997) warns for problems with anoxia if attempts are made to increase production by fertilisation or food addition which may provoke rapid deterioration and endanger all production.
Parallel tot the cultivation of bivalve molluscs and other fishing activities, there is a large activity related to the commercial gathering of bivalves on natural banks and the collection of
different invertebrates on the flats and in the intertidal zone, undertaken by hand or adequate individual tools (Michler, 2003). There are around 3000 licenses for commercial collection of bivalves, these include licenses for harvesting seed to grow in the culture lots. In public areas it is also allowed to collect invertebrates for own use.
Artisan fishing is also an important activity in the Ria with many people involved (Michler, 2003). Fishing gear has remained artisanal and is mainly limited to small gear. Nonetheless an increase in effort and in the efficiency of the gear has led to an increase in catches of juvenile fish which use the area as nursery site.
Status of the ecosystem
There is not much evidence of serious impact of marine aquaculture on the environment, although some farmed stocks of clams have suffered from overcrowding (ICES, 2003). In the public area it is busy with people collecting shellfish. There is much disturbance of foraging birds.
Status of the fished stock
The annual harvest of bivalves is stable around 3000 tons per year over the last 10 years (ICES, 2003; Michler, 2003). There is, however, concern that the intensification of fishing activities has led to a high pressure on natural banks and juveniles of shellfish. Particularly the group of razor shells is exposed to high pressure and the stock is expected to decline within a few years.
Economic status of the fishermen
A large number of people in the Ria Formosa area are involved in fishing. It is estimated that 20% of the active population is directly or indirectly dependent on the fishery sector (Michler, 2003). The importance of the fishery, particularly of the bivalve culturing and gathering activities, is attributed to the high productivity of the lagoon and the high commercial value of bivalves. Prices on the local market are for Ruditapes decusstaus €13-14 /kg, €2-3 for cockle and up to €20 /kg for razor shells (Ensis). The sector of bivalve culturing is not a professionalized sector and quite a lot of people are performing this business for their own subsidence and for increasing the family’s income without officially declaring their profits (Michler, 2003).
According to the official data the value of cultured clams in Portugal is € 20–30 million. Value of the finfish production in Portugal is € 10-15 million. Most of this production comes from the Ria Formosa (ICES, 2003).
Participation of fishing community in policy-making Unknown
Institutional context of fishery
Bivalve culture, fish culture and fisheries are regulated by licenses. Fishing gear that can be used is regulated by legislation. However, a lot of illegal fishing with beam trawls, beach seines and other unpermitted gear still takes place. In public areas it is allowed to collect for own consumption to a maximium of 2 kg/species (Michler, 2003). However, a lot of people without having licenses sell products to the local market.