In the Algarve, the octopus is an important economic resource for local fishing communities. This marine animal grows very fast and has a short life cycle, and given these life-history traits, it is particularly important to monitor and study the octopus fishery.

With this need in mind, and following up on the questions raised during a series of participatory sessions called "Tertúlia do Polvo", CCMAR organized the workshop "Fishing and octopus life cycle" on October 11 and 12. This event was organized in the framework of the ParticiPESCA project, aimed to present the project to all stakeholders, especially to fishermen involved in octopus fishing and that operate with creels and traditional ceramic pots for catching octopus  (fishing gears). 

Besides the contribution of our researchers, researchers and fishermen from Galicia shared their experience in octopus co-management. The participants also had the opportunity to participate in practical activities, where they could observe the different stages of the octopus life cycle and identify the sex of four specimens. The workshop was held over two days, one at the Gambelas Campus and the other at the Portimão Campus of the University of the Algarve.

The event was attended by several Algarve Fishermen Associations, the project partners (IPMA, Environmental Defense Fund and the ANP|WWF), the Oceano Azul Foundation (FOA) and several interested entities: CETMAR, DGRM, Representatives of the Secretary of State for Fisheries, DOCAPESCA, GAL Sotavento and the DRAP Algarve.

The ParticiPesca project aims to implement a co-management system applied to the Octopus fishery in the Algarve region. This initiative intends to create and dynamize a group that will include the fishing associations of this region dedicated to octopus, researchers and specialists, Public Administration entities and Non-Governmental Organizations to manage and give continuity to the discussion of the issues associated with this fishery.