The Algarve has “very favourable conditions” for the production of sea salt and even accounted for 95% of Portugal’s sea salt production in 2013. Still, communist party PCP believes the region can do even better and thus has officially questioned the government on how it is planning to support and bolster the industry.
According to PCP, there is “significant potential for the industry to grow in the Algarve”. The party believes many salt pans abandoned through the years could be recovered to increase production. And even though some are located in “protected areas” like Ria Formosa and the Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim, recovering salt pans will not affect the areas’ biodiversity.
But for this to work, the PCP says Portugal’s large retailers have to start playing ball. If they sell products like sea salt for too little, they put small producers at risk.
Thus the party is calling for the government to provide more support and to help companies considering exporting their products.
