THE AZOREAN DEMERSAL AND DEEP SEA FISHERY

Fishing in the Azores
dates back in history
and can be said to have existed since the first settlers
came to the Islands.
Demersal fisheries have
developed considerably
since this time.

 
HISTORY

Three phases can be described in the development of the demersal fisheries in the Azores.

The first phase, considered a development phase, lasted until the end of the 1960’s and was characterized by an artisanal fleet that operated close to the coast. This fleet used small open deck wooden boats (<12m in length), the majority of which were without motor and allowed for fishing with handlines in shallow waters.

The second, considered as a growth phase, started in the 1970’s and lasted until the beginning of the 1990’s. This phase saw the introduction of engine powered boats and by the 1980's, catches increased significantly as new markets developed and fish prices increased. Newer, better boats were introduced allowing for an extended fishing seasons and the expansion of the exploitable area to distant banks and seamounts. Professional education standards of the fisherman improved and when bottom longline gear was introduced, it increased the effectiveness of fishing in deeper waters.

The third phase, since 1992 until today, refers to to the highest levels of exploitation seen in the fishery. This last phase is characterized by an improved knowledge of the fisherman towards fish behaviour (e.g. distribution by area, depth and season), fishing technology and tactics (e.g. gear configuration and depth coverage in time and space) and increasing catch efficiency.

FISHING METHODS