The Regional Secretariat for the Sea Science and Technology, after hearing industry partners and the University of the Azores, has introduced an amendment to the regulation on the harvesting of marine species in the Azores, which was published today in the Official Journal.
 
With this amendment, the first sale of algae not intended for human consumption at auction is no longer mandatory. Until now, all algae caught in the archipelago had to be sold at auction, with the exception of sargassum.
 
The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stressed the "importance" of this amendment since the weighing of dry algae is now allowed, representing a "major asset" for catchers.
 
According to Fausto Brito e Abreu, the weighing of wet algae at auction "was very difficult." In this context, he added that this measure "provides a response to a request of algae catchers from Graciosa Island, where this activity is thriving."
 
"The buyers of this type of algae prefer to purchase dry algae," the Regional Secretary stressed, defending that the mandatory first sale at action was "detrimental to catchers because their income was in fact below the actual value of dry algae."
 
For the Regional Secretary, the harvesting of algae on Graciosa, promoted by the local Fishers' Association, is assumed "as an alternative form of income for fishers." The government official noted that the support to the diversification of activities and the promotion of new forms of income is listed in Axis IV of the strategic document "Better Fisheries, More Income."
 
The weighing of dry algae must be accompanied by an employee of Lotaçor so that the control of quantities may be maintained, ensuring the environmental sustainability of this activity. Nevertheless, the algae intended for human consumption like, for example, sea lettuce will continue to be sold at auction in the first sale system.