The President of the Government considered the draft resolution presented at the Legislative Assembly on Fisheries as "important and useful" insofar as it gives more strength to the work that is already being carried out by the Government to improve the income of fishers and their families.
 
"There are guidelines emphasised in this resolution that the Government had already been developing. Nevertheless, we believe that, especially with regard to the external entities, the position taken at the Assembly is important and useful and gives even more strength to the work the Government has been developing," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
The President of the Government spoke Tuesday at the Legislative Assembly in Horta considered that this is an aspect that should be emphasised, not for the benefit of the Regional Government but for the benefit of fishers and their families.
 
During the discussion of the Draft Resolution on the sustainability and income in fisheries, Vasco Cordeiro said this sector currently faces in the Region a challenging situation as it has seldom happened in the past.
 
"From this perspective, this Draft Resolution evidences - and this is important for the Government - a position of concern by putting this issue at the core of political debate since it is one of the matters that currently requires an intervention on the part of the self-government bodies of the Region, "said the President of the Government.
 
According to him, this legislative initiative points out to the implementation of principles the Government has been already pursuing at a long time, which is the case of the partnership with the University of the Azores, the safeguarding of the main demersal species, the sustainability of fisheries and the improvement of fishers' income.
 
"The government has done this, but the assessment the Government makes of the current situation points out to the need to do even more, because it is true that there are circumstances arising from the current situation, there are also structural conditions that require intervention," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
In this context, the President of the Government assured the determination in finding solutions to boost the income of the fishing industry, measures that can ensure the future and sustainability of the sector as well as in accomplishing the goal of having a sector that can increasingly contribute to employment and wealth creation in the Region.
 
"There is certainly something that I can guarantee. Until the last minute of the term of this Government, we will take the necessary measures to serve this sector," said the President of the Government.
 
The Government of the Azores has created a working group that will outline structural measures towards the restructuring of Fisheries in order to boost the income of industry professionals and adapt fishing effort to the resources available in the Region.
 
The establishment of this working group was announced by President of the Government in the end of February, after receiving the Azores Fisheries Federation.