Monkfish Fishing Stops in Portugal: Fishermen Struggle as Prices Soar

Fishing vessels returning from the Azores this morning discovered that targeted monkfish trips have been halted across Portugal’s continental shelf and Atlantic outposts after national catches hit the regulatory ceiling. Though crews had hoped for a last-minute quota adjustment, the Directorate-General for Maritime Resources confirmed that 95% of the permitted tamboril allocation is now taken, triggering an immediate stop to directed fishing in key zones.

Fishery closes after quota cap

The DGRM’s notice underscores a swift reversal of plans: an earlier embargo slated for October was rescinded while Lisbon pursued a quota swap with Spain, only for real-time catch figures to exhaust the limit. From midnight, vessels operating in ICES divisions 8c (Southern Bay of Biscay), 9 (Portuguese continental shelf), 10 (Azores Bank) and EU waters of CECAF 34.1.1 may still land monkfish as by-catch up to 5% of total daily haul but cannot target the species directly.

Stock assessments and the data gap

Scientists from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea placed Atlantic monkfish in category 1 in their June 2024 advice, proposing a northeast Atlantic Total Allowable Catch of 30 726 t for 2025—more than double the previous recommendation. Yet those figures arrived too late for EU ministers to revise national quotas before the December 2024 fisheries council. Portuguese skippers argue the ban rests on outdated data, and they hope faster incorporation of ICES guidance will prevent similar shutdowns next season.

Coastal communities under strain

In ports from Peniche to Vila do Conde and on São Miguel, fishermen warn of mounting costs just as winter weather makes trips longer and fuel hovers near €1.10 per litre. The Mar 2030 programme offers general support for income losses, but there is no tailor-made compensation for monkfish closures. Many small-scale operators say they lack the flexibility to switch gear overnight, leaving families at risk of income shortfalls during the most lucrative months.

Market ripple effects in Portugal

Retailers report that monkfish tails are a staple for festive dishes from Porto’s fish stalls to Faro’s mercados, and with supply squeezed the price could climb above last year’s €18/kg average. Some vendors are in talks to import frozen product from Scotland or France, a stopgap that carries higher transport costs and a heftier carbon footprint. Until any spare Spanish quota is released—a step Lisbon calls “possible but far from certain”—Portuguese households may find traditional arroz de tamboril harder to source.

Looking ahead: policy and adaptation

Authorities now face pressure to accelerate quota negotiations and explore contingency measures before the next EU fisheries council. Industry representatives urge the government to streamline data flows from electronic logbooks to avoid reactive closures and to consider adaptive management that balances sustainability with coastal livelihoods. For Portugal’s maritime sector, the monkfish pause is more than a seasonal hiccup—it is a reminder that regulatory timetables must keep pace with science and the realities of life at sea.