JPP welcomes return of seized gaiado to Caniçal fishers
Madeira GuideJPP says the returned fish will allow dried gaiado sandwiches to be distributed during the Festa de Nossa Senhora da Piedade boat procession.
JPP has welcomed the return of gaiado seized from fishers in Caniçal. Diário de Notícias Madeira reported that 2,000 kilos of the seized fish were handed back to the fishers.
Deputy Jéssica Teles said public pressure and outcry in Caniçal helped bring about the return. She said it will allow the tradition of distributing dried gaiado sandwiches during the boat procession of the Festa de Nossa Senhora da Piedade to go ahead.
JPP said the authorities' action caused concern in the fishing community and that the operation requires explanations, particularly on the rules and procedures behind the seizure. The party said the case highlights the need to clarify conditions for fish intended for family consumption and fishers' own use, and said this should be safeguarded through legislative change.
Teles said JPP does not question the authorities' power to inspect fishing activity, but said fishers need clear information on what they can do and which procedures they must follow. She said salting and drying gaiado are traditional practices in Caniçal, still present in many families.
JPP said the Regional Government, together with fishers' and shipowners' associations, should clarify rules on the use of fish where there is no commercial purpose. It said any regulatory changes should respect fishing rules, traceability and food safety while safeguarding traditional fishing-community practices.
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Madeira Guide
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