Speech by the Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas

Full text of the speech delivered today by the Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries, Mário Rui Pinho, in Horta, during the discussion of the Plan and Budget for 2026:

“The sea and fisheries sector is of great importance to the Region. For this reason, very important macro-policy steps have been taken to establish a sector aligned with the principles of sustainability, such as the implementation of the National Maritime Spatial Planning Situation Plan for the Azores subdivision, the ongoing implementation of the Regional Network of Marine Protected Areas and the option to use EU funds, including in defence, with very specific proposals for the future multiannual financial framework.

2026 requires the Azoreans and the Regional Government to undertake an increased budget effort to ensure the final implementation of the RRP and compliance with the n+3 rule of the Azores 2030 and MAR2030 programmes. This historic circumstance imposes an enormous responsibility on the budget implementation. 

It is in this context that we present, within the scope of the 2026 Plan and Budget for the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries, a global amount of 36.7 million Euros, including 30 million Euros for the implementation of the RRP, namely 25 million Euros for the Development of the Azores Sea Cluster. The latter is proving to be absolutely fundamental for the Region and even for the country, and includes the construction and fitting of the new research vessel and the construction of the experimental research and development centre linked to the sea (MARTEC Technopole). Moreover, there will be an allocation of 5 million Euros for the Fisheries Sector Incentive System, which aims to promote energy transition, digital transition, and reduction of environmental impact in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. This will provide regional fishing ports with more modern and efficient equipment from an operational and energy standpoint. 

These instruments are closely linked to the other actions included in the Plan, as regards fulfilling the Region's commitments and the role of science in supporting decision-making.

In this context, it is important to highlight the surveillance, inspection and management actions, with almost €27 million allocated, which includes the Azores sea cluster, as mentioned above, but also a series of decision-making support projects, such as POPA, the National Data Collection Plan, and demersal species, among others.

Regarding fisheries support infrastructures, a contract-programme was signed with Lotaçor, a strategic partner company for this department on all the islands. Lotaçor has been doing a thorough and important work in restoring and maintaining a range of equipment that is essential to ensure the sustainability of the sector.

As for the fleet and human resources, there are several support measures for the sector amounting to five million Euros, including FUNDOPESCA and the fishing sector incentive system funded under the RRP, already mentioned. Also, in terms of fleet support, although not included in this proposal, it is important to emphasise the compensation to be awarded to fishing industry professionals for potential income losses arising from the implementation of RAMPA, with funds from the Environmental Fund amounting to 10 million Euros.

It is important to highlight the support allocated to associations in the sector under the action "Fishery and aquaculture products," which amounts to more than €800,000. It is important to give due and necessary prominence to the role of associations in the fisheries sector and the willingness of these organisations to work collectively to contribute to solving specific problems in fishing communities.

It is also important to highlight the priority that the Regional Government gives to these forms of organisation of the fishing community by consulting them and including them in the decision-making process.

The action regarding the investment support within the scope of MAR 2030 projects represents almost €600,000, integrating the support schemes provided for in the programme, which runs from 2021 to 2027 and has an overall budget of €75 million. On September 30, 2025, a total of 2,270 projects had been approved, corresponding to an eligible investment of about €21 million.

In the field of marine environmental monitoring, promotion and action, I would like to highlight a large number of projects and research works, such as LIFE IP Azores Natura, LIFE IP Climaz, LIFE Natura@Night, TwinnedBySstars and CIRCULAROCEAN, which will continue to be implemented by the Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies, which aim, above all, to respond to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the definition of environmental well-being. Special emphasis should also be given to projects aimed at mitigating the impact of light pollution, implementing best practices for reducing bycatch, or implementing new marine ecotourism activities or activities that promote the sustainability of the coastal environment and the circular economy. It is important to know our sea as a way of establishing our regional autonomy. It is also important to highlight the relevance of the Azores Marine Park in restoring marine ecosystems.

We will continue to support the Azores Maritime School, as it remains a priority for the XIV Regional Government of the Azores, with a view to emphasising the excellence of training, promoting the expansion of available training, and creating mechanisms to attract more students and projects.

Within the scope of coastal management and redevelopment, there is a series of works under the management of the Regional Secretariat for Mobility, Tourism and Infrastructures, which clearly demonstrate this Regional Government's concern with the increasing erosion of the coastline due to climate change, whose impact we cannot and do not want to ignore. In this context, we highlight the protection and stabilisation of the coastline at the Santa Iria harbour, in São Miguel, involving an investment over four million Euros, as well as the ongoing reinforcement of coastal protection in the Calhetas and Santa Clara areas, also in São Miguel, the protection of the coastline and urban redevelopment of Praia Formosa, in Santa Maria, the stabilisation project in the area adjacent to the Calheta de São Jorge fire station, as well as various interventions to protect the coastline of Fenais on Graciosa Island.

Therefore, as regards the sea, the XIV Regional Government of the Azores intends to invest in these areas, while being aware of the many other situations that we will have to address, namely in terms of improving port infrastructures in the fishing sector and protecting the coastline. However, we must take into account the priority of implementing the RRP, budget constraints and the market's own response, which is currently struggling to respond due to labour shortages. We must also take into consideration the situation of the projects themselves, namely the stage they are at and the public procurement process itself, which, as everyone knows, is quite demanding.”