Funchal, Portugal, July 17, 2026 (Lusa) - Portugal's Minister for Agriculture and the Sea, José Manuel Fernandes, on Friday described the European Union’s (EU) reluctance to amend legislation to allow the introduction of more powerful vessels for black scabbard fishing off Madeira as “unacceptable”.
“It is essential that there are regulations that reflect reality and that there are no people – some out of ignorance, others out of incompetence, and others because they are radical – who leave our fishermen in a situation where insecurity prevails,” he warned.
José Manuel Fernandes was speaking to journalists at the Funchal Fish Auction and Cold Store, as part of a working visit to Madeira.
The minister boarded a scabbardfish fishing vessel accompanied by the regional secretary for the sector, Nuno Maciel, and, given the precarious conditions on board – with no toilet or kitchen – concluded that European decision-makers would change their stance if they were to do the same.
“It is unacceptable that this issue has not been properly resolved through a simple legislative amendment,” he stated.
The Government of Madeira (PSD/CDS-PP) has allocated €5 million from the Regional Budget to fund the construction of larger vessels, in order to ensure better conditions on board, but this also involves increasing engine power, which the European Commission does not authorise.
The Commission links the increase in tonnage and engine power directly to an increase in fishing capacity, and is therefore blocking the renewal of Madeira’s scabbardfish fishing fleet, comprising 23 vessels.
“This isn’t even a question of money; it’s a question of not taking a radical stance and of supporting decent work, supporting safety and being environmentally friendly, because if we have more efficient vessels, they will use less fuel and we will have lower emissions,” said José Manuel Fernandes.
The issue will be discussed with the European Commissioner for Fisheries, Costas Kadis, who is due to visit Madeira on Monday, 21 July, according to the Regional Government.
“I hope the tide will be higher when the Commissioner is here, so that he can easily board a boat and check the hygiene conditions and sleeping arrangements,” said the minister, emphasising that black scabbardfish fishermen are “true heroes”, because “they travel hundreds of miles and spend many days at sea without the conditions they ought to have”.
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries, Nuno Maciel, also hopes that the European Commissioner’s visit will help resolve the issue, as the region already has authorisation to build boats up to 18 or 24 metres in length, but is not yet permitted to increase engine power.
“With the same engines, it is not possible to build boats with nine cabins, a bathroom, a galley and freezers to store the fish,” he noted, pointing out that increasing the vessels’ engine power does not imply greater catch capacity, not least because the quota for black scabbardfish is “clearly defined”.
“This fishing will always be small-scale; it will never involve trawling,” he assured, regretting that the European Commission has not yet grasped the specific characteristics of the region in this sector.
“What is at stake is for the bureaucrats in Brussels to realise that all that is needed is to amend a regulation,” he said.
Madeira has a black scabbardfish quota of 2,418 tonnes, which generates around €11 million a year in first-sale revenue; the fleet comprises 23 vessels and around 200 fishermen.
The fishing season runs from January to November.
Following his visit to the Funchal Fish Auction and Cold Store, the Minister for Agriculture and the Sea travelled to the processing centre of GESBA, a public company that manages the region’s banana sector, and at 5.00 pm he will attend the opening of the 69th Madeira Agricultural and Livestock Fair, in the district of Porto Moniz, on the island’s north coast.
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