Ban on catching lamprey contested

Lamprey fishing has come to an end and the balance of catches in Portuguese rivers continues to reveal a worrying decline in the species. The scarcity has led to a significant increase in prices, which currently vary between 80 and 100 euros per specimen. In Coimbra, it has even been suggested that there should be a national ban on lamprey fishing, a measure that has generated controversy. 

Pedro Raposo de Almeida, a researcher and director of MARE, is one of the defenders of the species' conservation. He has been warning about the situation of the lamprey for several years, arguing that in order to guarantee the sustainability of the species, it is not enough just to apply a closed season, but also “other measures that guarantee the sustainability of the species”. 

One of the measures proposed is the translocation of lampreys, a strategy that consists of releasing specimens in breeding areas, with the aim of repopulating the rivers. The idea, according to the researcher, is to ensure the repopulation of these populations in order to reverse the decline of the species.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, recognizing the seriousness of the problem and aware of the scarcity of lampreys in Portuguese rivers, acknowledges that other measures may be necessary. Among the options is actually translocating specimens upriver. According to an official source from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, a meeting on the management and conservation of lamprey fishing was held on March 6, attended by the Secretary of State for Forestry, representatives from ICNF, DGRM and the University of Évora.

At the meeting, it became clear that the decline of lamprey is a phenomenon that not only affects Portuguese rivers, but also rivers in France and Spain. The creation of a monitoring committee was agreed, with the aim of monitoring lamprey fishing and conservation, as well as stepping up enforcement.

Despite this, several fishermen are already unhappy about the ban on catching lamprey. They argue that it is more effective to limit catches, attributing the species' decline to factors other than fishing. For this reason, they believe that conservation measures should take into account other threats such as river silting and the presence of invasive species.

The divergence of opinions continues to be a point of discussion, but the consensus around the need to adopt actions that guarantee the preservation of the lamprey seems increasingly urgent.

To find out more, read the article in Jornal de Notícias