**3. Harvesting regulation in the archipelago of Madeira: a driver to sustainable exploitation**

The fisheries sector should protect fish resources and environment through an effective legal regulation and an appropriate compliance and enforcement to ensure the sustainable resource exploitation [10]. Based on this principle, the regulation of limpet harvesting in the archipelago of Madeira sets the basis for a sustainable and responsible exploitation of these resources.

The rules of governing the harvesting of limpets in Madeira were initially set by the necessity to establish proper measures to the regional specificities, with regard to the practice of underwater hunting. These measures were implemented through the article 6 of the Regional Government under the Regional Legislative Decree No 11/1995/M on 21 June 1995 and setting a maximum allowable catch of 3 kg/day per person for limpets. This was the first management action regarding the harvesting of gastropods in the archipelago of Madeira.

The legal regulation of the limpets' harvesting method was decreed by the Legislative order No 1102-B/2000, 22 November 2000, which established the tools and instruments to be used in limpet harvesting.

The current limpets' management in Madeira was based in technical measures implemented by the Regional Government under the Regional Legislative Decree No 11/2006/M, 18 April 2006, which establishes the legal regime for the harvesting of these gastropods in this region [3]. The management measures were implemented in 2006 based on the knowledge obtained from studies on the biology, population dynamics, and assessment of the stocks and intended to advise a precautionary approach capable of harmonizing the need to protect stocks with the preservation of the economic activities associated with their capture and gastronomic use [11].

**151**

*Artisanal Harvest of Shellfish in the Northeastern Atlantic: The Example of Limpet…*

For this purpose, regulators established several management measures for the traditional and commercial exploitation of the species *P. aspera* and *P. candei*. For the commercial exploitation, a minimum catch size of 40 mm, the obligation of harvesting licenses, logbook provision, the landings and first auction sale, and catch limits were implemented, enforcing the maximum allowable commercial catch of 15 kg/person/day or 200 kg/boat/day, being exempted of any license the traditional

Additionally, the Legislative Orders No 80/2006 and No 81/2006, 17 June 2006, set the establishment of a closed season between November 1 and January 31 to avoid limpet harvest during the reproductive season and the rules concerning the

In 2009, based on continuous population monitoring, the closed season was changed to become effective between December 1 and February 28 (Legislative Order No 5/2009, 4 July 2009). In 2016, the closed season was extended through the Legislative Order No 40/2016, 17 February 2016, in result of the data obtained from the continuous monitoring of the stocks, in order to more efficiently provide protection to these heavily exploited species, now lasting from December 1 to March 31. The extension of the closed season is intended to result in biological benefits, allowing greater protection of spawning, larvae development, and settlement and to increase the success of annual recruitment and subsequent development of limpets. Additionally, the competent authorities implemented a reduction in the number of harvesting licenses

Since the implementation of limpet harvest regulation, the non-compliance of the imposed management measures is punishable with administrative offenses and penalties. The sanctions include monetary fines (between 49.88 € and 44,891.81 €), harvesting prohibition, and suspension of harvesting licenses. Nevertheless, poaching continues to occur during the closed season, without abiding the minimum

The regulation of limpets in the archipelago of Madeira allowed safeguarding the peak of reproduction, the immature specimens, and the catches of both *P. aspera* and *P. candei*. Although the management measures on these resources have been implemented for several years, only a slight recovery on the limpet populations has been observed, maybe due the peculiar life trait characteristics of this species, as slow growth and longevity. Hence, it is of paramount importance to keep up with the enforcement of the implemented measures in order to achieve higher recovery rates

Currently, topshell harvest in the archipelago of Madeira is not regulated, with the exception of harvest ban on MPAs [2]. As such, the effort exerted and the shifts on the populations' dynamics of the harvested populations, exploited for more than 500 years, are unknown. However, management measures based on recent studies [2] are in progress and shall enter into force during the year 2019, aiming to promote both profitable and sustainable harvest. The establishment of a maximum catch of 2 kg per day for noncommercial use and 20 kg per day for commercial use, the implementation of landing obligations and first sale at auction, the establishment of a minimum catch size of 15 mm shell length, and the establishment of a

closed season between February and May are recommended [2].

Further European legislation through the European Community Council Regulation No 199/2008, 25 February 2008, prompted an increase in the knowledge regarding the fisheries sector in the European Union, including smaller sections such as limpet harvest, meeting the demands generated by the necessity to evolve toward a sustainable fisheries sector, with its management based on the fleet and fishing areas rather than based on fish stocks. As such, the collection of data and their availability by region will provide the basis for the better scientific advice.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85728*

harvest that does not exceed 3 kg/day per person.

aiming to diminishing the pressure on the resource [3, 12].

catch size of 40 mm of shell length [3].

of the exploited limpet stocks.

harvesting card.

#### *Artisanal Harvest of Shellfish in the Northeastern Atlantic: The Example of Limpet… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85728*

For this purpose, regulators established several management measures for the traditional and commercial exploitation of the species *P. aspera* and *P. candei*. For the commercial exploitation, a minimum catch size of 40 mm, the obligation of harvesting licenses, logbook provision, the landings and first auction sale, and catch limits were implemented, enforcing the maximum allowable commercial catch of 15 kg/person/day or 200 kg/boat/day, being exempted of any license the traditional harvest that does not exceed 3 kg/day per person.

Additionally, the Legislative Orders No 80/2006 and No 81/2006, 17 June 2006, set the establishment of a closed season between November 1 and January 31 to avoid limpet harvest during the reproductive season and the rules concerning the harvesting card.

In 2009, based on continuous population monitoring, the closed season was changed to become effective between December 1 and February 28 (Legislative Order No 5/2009, 4 July 2009). In 2016, the closed season was extended through the Legislative Order No 40/2016, 17 February 2016, in result of the data obtained from the continuous monitoring of the stocks, in order to more efficiently provide protection to these heavily exploited species, now lasting from December 1 to March 31. The extension of the closed season is intended to result in biological benefits, allowing greater protection of spawning, larvae development, and settlement and to increase the success of annual recruitment and subsequent development of limpets. Additionally, the competent authorities implemented a reduction in the number of harvesting licenses aiming to diminishing the pressure on the resource [3, 12].

Since the implementation of limpet harvest regulation, the non-compliance of the imposed management measures is punishable with administrative offenses and penalties. The sanctions include monetary fines (between 49.88 € and 44,891.81 €), harvesting prohibition, and suspension of harvesting licenses. Nevertheless, poaching continues to occur during the closed season, without abiding the minimum catch size of 40 mm of shell length [3].

The regulation of limpets in the archipelago of Madeira allowed safeguarding the peak of reproduction, the immature specimens, and the catches of both *P. aspera* and *P. candei*. Although the management measures on these resources have been implemented for several years, only a slight recovery on the limpet populations has been observed, maybe due the peculiar life trait characteristics of this species, as slow growth and longevity. Hence, it is of paramount importance to keep up with the enforcement of the implemented measures in order to achieve higher recovery rates of the exploited limpet stocks.

Currently, topshell harvest in the archipelago of Madeira is not regulated, with the exception of harvest ban on MPAs [2]. As such, the effort exerted and the shifts on the populations' dynamics of the harvested populations, exploited for more than 500 years, are unknown. However, management measures based on recent studies [2] are in progress and shall enter into force during the year 2019, aiming to promote both profitable and sustainable harvest. The establishment of a maximum catch of 2 kg per day for noncommercial use and 20 kg per day for commercial use, the implementation of landing obligations and first sale at auction, the establishment of a minimum catch size of 15 mm shell length, and the establishment of a closed season between February and May are recommended [2].

Further European legislation through the European Community Council Regulation No 199/2008, 25 February 2008, prompted an increase in the knowledge regarding the fisheries sector in the European Union, including smaller sections such as limpet harvest, meeting the demands generated by the necessity to evolve toward a sustainable fisheries sector, with its management based on the fleet and fishing areas rather than based on fish stocks. As such, the collection of data and their availability by region will provide the basis for the better scientific advice.

*Invertebrates - Ecophysiology and Management*

between 24 and 29 million years [8, 9].

**2.1 Data collection**

activity not being regulated.

information in logbooks.

**sustainable exploitation**

responsible exploitation of these resources.

of gastropods in the archipelago of Madeira.

and instruments to be used in limpet harvesting.

fish and molluscs corresponding to 21,636 thousand €.

Region of Madeira (DRP-RAM) for both limpets and topshells.

The islands of Madeira and Desertas represent the most recent islands of the archipelago of Madeira with 4.6 and 3.6 million years, respectively. Porto Santo has an estimated age of 14.3 million years and the Selvages islands an estimated age

inhabitants, and the fishing activity employed 618 registered fishermen (DRP-RAM). The annual landings increased 38.6% in relation to 2016 with 6.739 tonnes of

The population living in the archipelago of Madeira in 2017 was *ca.* 254 thousand

Data on the landings (i.e., species, day, weight, and economic value) and on the artisanal fleet (i.e., length of the fishing vessel, tonnage, capacity, métier, fishery license) were obtained from the Regional Fisheries Department of Autonomous

Logbook data analyses were only available to characterize the limpet harvesting activity (i.e., harvesting area, typology of bottom, depth of harvesting, number of divers, number of snorkelers per vessel, and landing place and time), since it is mandatory to fill the logbooks according to the regulation of the limpet harvest in the archipelago of Madeira. For topshells these data are not available due to this

Landings data were compiled and analyzed covering the period from 1990 to 2017 and the logbook data from 2008 to 2017, concerning the period after the regulation of the harvesting of limpets that required the filling of all the harvesting

**3. Harvesting regulation in the archipelago of Madeira: a driver to** 

The fisheries sector should protect fish resources and environment through an effective legal regulation and an appropriate compliance and enforcement to ensure the sustainable resource exploitation [10]. Based on this principle, the regulation of limpet harvesting in the archipelago of Madeira sets the basis for a sustainable and

The rules of governing the harvesting of limpets in Madeira were initially set by the necessity to establish proper measures to the regional specificities, with regard to the practice of underwater hunting. These measures were implemented through the article 6 of the Regional Government under the Regional Legislative Decree No 11/1995/M on 21 June 1995 and setting a maximum allowable catch of 3 kg/day per person for limpets. This was the first management action regarding the harvesting

The legal regulation of the limpets' harvesting method was decreed by the Legislative order No 1102-B/2000, 22 November 2000, which established the tools

The current limpets' management in Madeira was based in technical measures implemented by the Regional Government under the Regional Legislative Decree No 11/2006/M, 18 April 2006, which establishes the legal regime for the harvesting of these gastropods in this region [3]. The management measures were implemented in 2006 based on the knowledge obtained from studies on the biology, population dynamics, and assessment of the stocks and intended to advise a precautionary approach capable of harmonizing the need to protect stocks with the preservation of the economic activities associated with their capture and gastronomic use [11].

**150**
