3 .POPA: An observation programme for the fisheries of the Azores

In the late 1990’s, it became clear that tuna industry would be seriously penalized with the absence of a “Dolphin safe” certification which instigated new measures from the government and the fisheries sector.

In order to achieve this certification, the Azores Fisheries Observer Programme was funded in 1998, ensuring the absence of dolphin mortality or injury in tuna fishery. Since then, fishery and fishing products are certified by the Earth Island Institute, through the results presented by POPA. Besides that, tuna fishery is also certified as “Friend of the Sea” (www.friendofthesea.org) which means that it is extremely selective, doesn’t harm the surrounding environment and is quite sustainable. It became the first tuna fishery in the world achieving that certification.
The Programme results from an agreement between Regional Administration, Earth Island Institute, the Tuna Canning Industry Association (Pão do Mar), the Fishing Boat Owners Association (APASA) and IMAR – Instituto do Mar - through the University of The Azores Center (IMAR-DOP/UAç), which carries out the programme. Until 2003 the Programme was supported by regional funds. Between 2003 and 2005 it became co-financed by the European Commission through the INTERREG IIIb Programme/ ORPAM project. Since then it has been exclusively supported by the regional government through the Regional Secretary of Fisheries.

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