The Portuguese National Statistics Institute (INE) fishing statistics released on Tuesday showed that the fishing restrictions also boosted the demand for other species such as mackerel, which was the fish that was moist captured last year in Portugal with a total of 46,40 tons, a third of the total.

The 140,800 tons of fresh and frozen fish brought ashore by the domestic fleet was sold for €261 million (+5.4% than in 2014), but the average price of the fish was just €1.81 a kilo, the lowest since 2012.

However, in the case of sardines, the average price was €2.19, the highest in 20 years because of a lack of fish being captured.

With quotas slashed by 90% this year, the prices are expected to sky-rocket.