Portugal’s APA recognised as an aquaculture producer organisation

The Associação Portuguesa de Aquacultores (APA) has been officially recognised as an aquaculture producer organisation (PO) in Portugal, the association has announced. The recognition completes a process the association had been pursuing and opens a new chapter for collective organisation among Portuguese aquaculture producers.

Isidro Blanquet, APA’s secretary-general, described the recognition as “a milestone” in the association’s history and thanked its board and producer members for their commitment to making the transition to a producer organisation possible.

The reference provided, PTR 027-OPA, identifies the new organisation as an aquaculture PO. In the European Commission register, Portugal is listed under the country code PRT. Organisations are classified as POs, with a letter indicating their activity. A denotes aquaculture. The latest public version available, dated 16 April 2026, does not yet include this new registration.

APA’s recognition restores an aquaculture PO in Portugal after the previous organisation, recognised in the Algarve in 2022 and representing European seabass and gilthead seabream producers, ceased to be recognised in February 2024. In February 2026, EUMOFA listed 16 recognised producer organisations in Portugal, all operating in the fisheries sector.

Producer organisations are part of the EU’s common organisation of the markets for fisheries and aquaculture products. Their objectives include coordinating their member’s activities and aligning production with market needs. EU rules require them to submit production and marketing plans to national authorities.

The APA says the new organisation will promote innovation, sustainability, cooperation and the added value of Portuguese aquaculture production.

The announcement follows report in October that the application was still at the final review stage. At the APA’s aquaculture seminar on 6 November, Blanquet described the process as a decisive step for the association.

The APA currently has 47 members, including fish farmers producing gilthead seabream, European seabass, turbot and sole, as well as pilot-scale projects involving meagre and bluefin tuna. Bivalve mollusc and seaweed producers are also well represented.