Olhãopesca, the Algarve Fish Producers' Organisation, wants fishing with ganchorra to stop between 1 September and 15 October in the southern fishing zone.

The proposal follows reports from fishing boat skippers of significant numbers of juvenile conquilha and pé-de-burrinho, two species of bivalve molluscs caught in Portuguese waters.

Barlavento reports that the proposal will now be presented to the committee responsible for monitoring dredge fishing in the southern zone.

The situation this year has been unusual. The normal closed period for this type of fishing in the south was exceptionally suspended following a request from Olhãopesca.

The decision came after repeated storms between November 2025 and March 2026 prevented fishing vessels from operating normally and caused financial difficulties for fishermen and boat owners.

Official documents from Portugal's Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM) confirm that Olhãopesca requested the suspension after the fleet faced numerous periods when it could not operate because of bad weather, alongside higher operating costs.

At the time, the possibility was left open for another fishing closure between September and October if stocks needed additional protection.

Olhãopesca now believes that this is necessary. The organisation says its proposal takes into account observations from fishing boat skippers as well as the results of research carried out by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

The proposed closure is intended to give young shellfish more time to develop while balancing the environmental needs of the fishery with the livelihoods of those who depend on it.