Pedro Raposo, director of the Centre for Marine and Environmental Sciences (MARE) is calling for a ban on lamprey fishing, to ensure the recovery of a species that is becoming increasingly scarce in Portuguese rivers. He tells Lusa: “The situation has worsened. It has been a succession of bad years: 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023 were bad years, caused by the drought and other situations that we still can’t explain, since there’s a lack of knowledge about what happens to the species at sea, where there may be more mortality.” Lamprey, reproduce in freshwater but develop to adulthood in the sea, and their extra tragedy is that they are highly regarded in Portuguese gastronomy.
Expert calls for ban on lamprey fishing
