Regional Government continues meetings on restructuring and modernising fisheries sector
Horta
Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas
The 7th meeting on the restructuring and modernisation of the fisheries sector in the Azores was held this Tuesday, October 8.
This meeting, held via videoconference, was organised by the Regional Directorate for Fisheries to continue the debate on the goals and measures to be included in the strategy for restructuring the regional fisheries sector.
These meetings began on November 4, 2022, as part of the Blue Azores Programme's collaboration with the Regional Directorate for Fisheries. They were always attended by representatives of the Fisheries Federation, the Association of Tuna and Similar Producers (APASA) and the Association of Producers of Demersal Species in the Azores (APEDA).
The last three meetings have been held under the new Government, which has made this dialogue more regular and has also called on all the local associations in the fisheries sector.
A wide range of potential measures to restructure the fishing sector were identified as part of this participatory process. These include renewing the fleet and adjusting it to the sustainable use of available resources, adopting more effective supervision, monitoring and inspection based on remote sensing methods and cooperation protocols, promoting co-management measures, diversifying fishing activity, promoting professional training and literacy, and adding value to the product and distributing that value fairly along the commercialisation chain.
The strategy under development met with agreement regarding its vision of "developing a sustainable, efficient and competitive fisheries sector in the Azores, ensuring the sustainable use of marine resources and socio-economic and environmental balance."
A similar agreement was reached on its mission: "Promoting the quality of fishing products, training and valuing professionals in the sector, boosting income throughout the value chain, modernising the fleet and port infrastructures and equipment, improving knowledge, management and supervision through cooperation, and calling for co-responsibility on the part of all parties involved."
The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries, through the Regional Directorate for Fisheries, expects to finalise this consultation process by the end of the year.
