Interventions in “dozens and dozens” of fishing ports in the Azores, carried out by the Government over the last decade have significantly improved the safety and working conditions of Azorean fishers as well as their income, mentioned the President of the Azorean Government in Velas on São Jorge Island today.
Carlos César spoke at the ceremony to lay the first stone of the fishing centre of the Velas port, a work that will cost 850 thousand Euros, to be completed in less than a year and will include the construction of a levelled ground, a protection breakwater, a mooring berth and of floating bridges with a capacity for 33 vessels.
The President of the Government stressed that all the investment which has takien place in the fisheries sector is justified as this is a “fundamental and structuring area in the model of the regional development.”
Carlos César reminded that “the reform started a decade ago” in the sector has comprised the construction of new piers, slipways, breakwaters, levelled grounds, fish markets, houses for fishing gear, ship repair workshops and port infrastructures in addition to the renewal of the fishing fleet.
Regarding São Jorge Island, “we have carried out interventions in the ports of Velas, Calheta, Fajã do Ouvidor, Fajã das Almas and of Fajã de São João,” Carlos César said, adding that the works in the Urzelina port are taking place and the renewal of the Topo port will be carried out in a “more ambitious way” than what had been originally planned.
Among other measures to support the fisheries sector on São Jorge, the President of the Government announced the construction of 15 new vessels and reminded that the new compensation scheme for the market placement of the fishing products from the cohesion islands estimates the increase of the financial aid provided by the POSEI programme with a subsidy of 10 cents for the tuna for the canning industry and of 40 cents for the fish placed in the market by air transport.
The continuity of the operation of the Santa Catarina canning factory, assured by the Government, with an annual processing of 800 tonnes of tuna which should reach 1.600 tonnes this year, thus ensuring 113 direct jobs as well as many indirect, is another fundamental intervention for the fisheries sector on São Jorge.
The President of the Government of the Azores also stressed the understanding between the authorities of the sector and the Association of São Jorge Fishers regarding the fishers’ participation in the process of fish marketing, a very important initiative to improve the income of fishers and of shipowners who frequently sell “the product of their work” at very low prices, while the consumer pays “three, four, five or six times more.”
Furthermore, Carlos César said that with the structuring investments made in fisheries and in agriculture, particularly in the cheese production, tourism and in other production sectors of the island, the Government “feels that it has gained the confidence of São Jorge islanders,” hence it will continue to promote the development of São Jorge as well as on all Azorean islands.
The President of the Regional Government encouraged the participation of São Jorge islanders and of all the Azoreans in the next elections, “starting in the National Legislative elections in September to ensure the best Government of the Republic for the Azores in order to guarantee the continuity of the regional development.”