Algarve invests 2.6 million in aquaculture

The Algarve is already responsible for about half Portugal’s aquaculture production – which currently amounts to around seven thousand tons per year.

Since 2009, the ministry has received 17 investment proposals for installations of this type – to be located offshore along the Algarve coast, Rego continues.

With a production total estimated at 12 thousand tons, five of the new centres would concentrate on the production of molluscs and bi-valves (mussels, oysters and scallops).

The rest would produce sargo, sea bass, sea bream, sole, golden bream and snook (“robalo”).

It’s predicted that the aquaculture sector should grow considerably in the next few years as traditional fishing is on the wane and producing less and less fish.

The Algarve is a coveted area as the average temperature of the waters favours the reproductive cycles of certain species (for example, oysters) relative to competition from abroad.