Lamprey numbers in Mondego river at lowest levels on record

In 2024, the Mondego river had the lowest number of adult lampreys since records began, a researcher in the field said today, noting that measures to limit fishing will be implemented in 2025. These involve lopping a number of days off the permitted lamprey fishing season. Moves are also afoot to abolish large-staked nets which conservationists say have exacerbated lampreys’ decline, by seriously reducing their chances of getting upstream (where they reproduce) before returning to the sea to grow to adulthood. Lampreys are considered a delicacy. If conservation measures don’t see their numbers increase, another type of restriction on lamprey fishing may have to be considered for 2026, Pedro Raposo Almeida, director of the Centre for Marine and Environmental Sciences (MARE) has told Lusa.