Regional Government wants to boost conditions for the fishing sector to progress "from survival to livelihood" - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, chaired the public presentation of the Fishers + Programme and the new training management platform of the Azores Maritime School (EMA), which took place Monday in the town of Rabo de Peixe. According to him, these are the foundations for the sector to improve its literacy and training, progressing "from survival to livelihood." 

"We are enhancing careers, and we must have the support of the people. We cannot tolerate the trend towards illiteracy and we need to motivate new generations to improve their qualifications. If they want a maritime career, they will have dignity and income in a career that can contribute to the global economy," stressed the President of the Government.

Despite being based on the island of Faial, EMA has to reach all those interested in its training programmes, said the President of the Government.

"The School has to travel to the fishing communities, where its presence is required and necessary. And today we are going from words to deeds in a value-creation strategy. Lotaçor must also be at the service of shipowners and fishers," said José Manuel Bolieiro.

And he added: "Training and the acquisition of skills are essential to raise the bar. I believe and trust in the fishing community."

Earlier, the Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries, Manuel São João, had defined the public presentation of the two measures as "an asset for maritime and, subsequently, for the development of the blue economy."

"The Fishers + programme will be an approach to the fishing career, making it possible for those who want to engage in this occupation to do so by completing their education (4th and 6th-grade levels). This will be the fundamental step for accessing, at a later stage, the local fishing vessel skipper or fishing vessel master categories," he said. 

In turn, the new Training Management Platform of the Azores Maritime School "will ensure the inclusion and access of all trainees to the different training courses and, at any time, the possibility of consulting their training process," he added.