THE COST of sardines has risen 100 per cent since last summer but fishermen across the region are claiming that this rise is due to higher standards of quality.
According to members of Barlapescas, a fishermen’s cooperative based in Portimão, sardine quantities are lower because greater emphasis is being placed on the highest quality product for vendors and consumers. They have said that after fish are caught, they are immediately placed in isothermic containers to retain freshness and quality. This is allegedly the same reason that fishermen are spending less time out at sea.
Quality
Once they have filled around 200 cases with sardines, they return to shore to sell them immediately in order to preserve the quality and freshness. Since May, sardines at docks across the Algarve are being sold by the case, rather than by weight, in order to sell as much as possible before the fish begin to perish.
In Portimão, which is one of the most important sardine areas, between nine and 10 tonnes of sardines are sold per day, whereas last summer, the average was 15 tonnes and the average price of one kilo of sardines was between one euro and 2.50 euros. This year, the same quantity can cost the consumer more than five euros.
It has been alleged that the 100 per cent price increase could also be attributed to fishermen attempting to cover costs after several tonnes of low quality fish were removed from sale and disposed of earlier this year.
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