The 100 miles awarded to the Azorean fishers represent less fish than the 12 miles awarded to the fishers who operate in the coastal areas of the European continent.
The complaint was made by the Regional Secretary for the Environment and the Sea, Álamo Meneses, at the opening session of the seminar on the future of the European Maritime Policy that was held in Horta today and was presided over by the European Commissioner Joe Borg.
"It is certain that we now have more water to navigate, but unfortunately we have less fish, when compared to the quota awarded to the regions in Mainland Europe," stressed the Regional Secretary.
Despite praising the EU Commissioner, considered by Álamo Meneses as "the most Azorean of the members of the European College of Commissioners,” the Regional secretary pointed out that with regard to Fisheries, the “concerns and divergences” between the Azores and the European Union are well-known.
By allowing the free circulation of the fleets in all EU waters, the European Union has created a situation that “can only benefit the vessels in certain regions of Mainland Europe, with a larger size and autonomy,” regretted the Secretary for the Environment and the Sea.
For Álamo Meneses, the Community tools to protect the Azorean sea, where the fishing banks “are scarce and with a reduced area” are “clearly insufficient and inadequate.”
Therefore, the Secretary defended that it is “time to review” the Common Fisheries Policy, in order to “amend and reintroduce protection mechanisms, as well as to limit the number of vessels that operate in each maritime area.”
Álamo Meneses emphasized that the potential of the fishing resources in the Azores sea "is fragile,” defending the existence of “management policies for the Archipelago which have to be different from those followed in the maritime areas in Mainland Europe,” in order to achieve a balance between the use of resources and their preservation in the medium and long term.
Furthermore, the Regional Secretary defended that taking into account the “local specificities and understanding the side effects of the measures to be adopted, which will have to be precautionary, refusing hastiness and immediate interests” is only possible “with the presence of the Regions” in the process of defining the Good Environmental Status.
Mentioning the experience gained through the operationalisation of the Natura 2000 Network, the Regional Secretary also said that “establishing financial programmes” that can support the Azores in implementing a strategy is crucial; otherwise, the Region might become dependent on third parties to intervene in the marine environment.