The Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica (ASAE) carried out a joint operation with the Portuguese Navy and the Maritime Police in the Algarve region, under the operation called "Pescado Seguro" (Safe Fish), aimed at verifying the conditions of preparation, processing and packaging of fish on trawl factory ships operating at sea.
Nine commercial fishing vessels were inspected, with two administrative offense proceedings initiated related to lack of hygiene requirements. During the actions, the licensing rules, working conditions and organization of processing spaces, the preservation and storage of products in onboard cold storage units, the materials used in the handling of fish and crustaceans, the general condition of the vessels, the training of operators and the implementation of self-control systems based on HACCP principles were verified.
The operation mobilized twelve ASAE inspectors, eleven Portuguese Navy military personnel and five Maritime Police agents, in a joint effort that reinforces cooperation between entities and the capacity for coordinated action in matters of fisheries activity inspection.
ASAE announced that it will continue to carry out inspection actions throughout the national territory, within its competencies, in safeguarding food safety and public health of consumers.
