"Sardine fishing is reopened from midnight on 4 May 2026," reads the document, signed by the Secretary of State for Fisheries and the Sea, Salvador Malheiro.

For the Portuguese fleet, sardines caught with purse seine nets are limited to 33,446 tons in 2026, as defined by the decree.

The decree sets strict time limits and quotas for sardine fishing, landing, and sales.

Depends on vessels

From midnight on 4 May, vessels up to nine metres long may land up to 2,250 kg or 100 baskets.

Vessels over nine metres and up to 16 metres may land 3,938 kg (175 baskets), while those over 16 metres may land up to 6,750 kg (300 baskets).

From midnight on 1 June, vessels up to nine metres are allowed 2,700 kg (120 baskets).

Between nine and sixteen metres, vessels may land 4,725 kg (210 baskets), while vessels longer than sixteen metres remain at 6,750 kg (300 baskets).

Other restrictions

On national holidays, catching, unloading, or selling sardines is prohibited.

Transferring sardines to a market other than the port of unloading or unloading at more than one port per day is prohibited.

The suspension since 3 December was aimed at protecting resources, with quotas managed jointly by Portugal and Spain.