The Regional Under Secretary of Fisheries presided over the meeting of the work group of the insular subdivision of the South Western Waters Regional Advisory Council that took place in Ponta Delgada today.
Speaking to journalists, Marcelo Pamplona stated that the meeting which aims to ascertain positions to defend the common interests of the Azores, Madeira and of the Canary Islands under the current EU Common Fisheries Policy.
The Regional Under Secretary specified that the Regional Government has been advocating the creation of an advisory council for the Portuguese, French and Spanish outermost regions to become as lobby among the European Union in order to better defend their interests and specificities related to the fisheries sector.
He also revealed that the meeting will create a common document to be submitted to the European Union that takes into account the specificities of each Macaronesia region in order to preserve fisheries, thus ensuring their sustainability.
 The Under Secretary of Fisheries expressed his concern regarding the opening of the Azorean Exclusive Economic Zone to the EU fleets that fish up to 100 miles since 2004 without any precaution criteria, which is dilapidating the local marine resources.
Furthermore, Marcelo Pamplona informed that under the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, the Azores intend to have a more active and decisive intervention concerning the management of local fisheries up to 200 miles as it is a very fragile maritime zone which cannot be overexploited.
That member of the Regional Government underlined the Government’s interest in having a greater flexibility in the fleet size as well as in the power of their engines, prohibiting the use predatory fishing gear and the entry of larger vessels, in addition to managing the problem related to the capture of species on the islands.
For this political official, it is time for the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands to create a joint action that will defend the specificities of their fisheries sectors, thereby ensuring the continuity of a profitable activity for those who work in the sector.