The Regional Secretary for Natural Resources said today that a total of 16,310 applications have been support since the creation of Fundopesca, which corresponds to a total amount of 5.8 million Euros. Unlike the national legislation, the regional fund currently covers a larger number of professionals in the fishing sector and the financial support may be granted in conjunction with other social benefits.

"Fundopesca has been activated on an annual basis since 2002," stressed Luís Neto Viveiros. The government official stressed that the national fund "was activated on two occasions." The first time was in the late 1990s, when fishers were supported by a global amount of 250 thousand Euros, and the last time was this year; there is no information available on the figures stipulated for 2014.

Speaking at the Legislative Assembly, the Regional Secretary considered that the adaptation of Fundopesca to the national legislation, rejected today by the Regional Parliament, would result in the "frequent submission of applications," which, in turn, would "decrease the financial support."

"The legislation on the regional fund is efficient, Luís Neto Viveiros assured, reminding that "it has been recently improved" after the negotiations with the representatives of the Fisheries sector and its approval at a plenary session.

This legal document was considered to be "more balanced," as it "simplifies the procedures for the activation of the fund, and covers "a significant number of fishing professionals." In addition, the financial support may be paid in conjunction with other benefits.

"The Regional Parliament also decided that the regional legislation on Fundopesca should be fully independent from the national legislation; the latter provided a transfer from the State, which has never happened, stressed the Regional Secretary. The government official also informed that the Administration Board of Fundopesca takes into consideration "Saturdays and Sundays" in the calculation of financial support measures.
 
However, Luís Neto Viveiros admitted "the need to streamline procedures" by reducing the deadlines between the submission of applications, their respective analysis and the payment to the fishers covered by the fund.