The prohibition of harvesting and commercialization of bivalve mollusks, echinoderms, tunicates, and marine gastropods has been established in Portugal in zones temporarily reclassified due to the presence of toxins and other reasons. The data update was made on September 7, 2026, referring to coastal zone L5a of the Peniche Coast – Cabo Raso.
In the zone in question, limpets are prohibited due to the presence of chemical contaminants, specifically Cadmium, and the usual sanitary status does not apply. Mussels are also prohibited due to lipophilic biotoxins that cause diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), with a Class B sanitary status. Only sea urchins remain open for harvesting in this zone.
The Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) provides bulletins with detailed information on all prohibitions in effect, and a harmful phytoplankton alert has also been issued. The article refers to the IPMA information platform where one can consult the distribution of phytoplankton concentration and the established alert limits.
The text also clarifies that bivalve mollusks are soft-bodied animals protected by an exoskeleton in the form of a shell with two valves, and that non-filter-feeding marine gastropods, such as limpets, are excluded from the normal provisions for classification of production zones according to European regulations.
