"Sardine fishing ('sardina pilchardus') is reopened from midnight on April 21, 2025", reads the diploma, signed by the Secretary of State for Fisheries, Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar.

For the Portuguese fleet, the limit on sardines caught using purse-seine fishing gear is 34,406 tonnes in 2025.

However, periods have been defined in which it is not possible to capture, unload, or offer for sale sardines beyond the indicated limits.

From 00:00 hours on April 21, vessels with an overall length of less than or equal to nine metres have a limit of 1,800 kilos (kg) or 80 baskets.

For vessels with a length greater than nine metres and less than or equal to 16 metres, the maximum is 3,150 kg (140 baskets), while for vessels with a length greater than 16 metres it is 4,500 kg (200 baskets).

In turn, from midnight on May 5, vessels with an overall length of less than or equal to nine meters have a limit of 2,250 kg (100 baskets).

For vessels longer than nine and less than 16 metres, the maximum is 3,938 kg (175 baskets) and for vessels longer than 16 metres, it is 5,625 kg (250 baskets).

From 00:00 hours on June 2, the limit is 2,700 kg (120 baskets) for vessels with a length of nine metres or less, 4,725 kg (210 baskets) for vessels with a length of more than nine metres and 16 metres or less and 6,750 kg (300 baskets) for vessels with a length of more than 16 metres.

On national holidays, the capture, maintenance on board, unloading and sale of sardines is prohibited.

It is also prohibited to transfer sardines to a fish market other than the one corresponding to the port of unloading, as well as for the same vessel to unload at more than one port during each day.

Sardine fishing had ended on December 4th.