The Regional Director for Fisheries revealed that Madeira tuna fishing vessels fishing in the Azores sea will join the Azores Fisheries Observation Programme (POPA) during the next tuna fishing season.
"Madeira demonstrated its availability to support the presence of observers on board Madeira tuna seiners," Luís Costa stressed, adding that POPA "awards the 'dolphin safe' and 'friend of the sea' certifications to Azorean fishers who wish to export fish products to the USA, for example."

Luis Costa spoke at the end of a meeting with the Regional Director of Fisheries of Madeira that addressed "matters of interest for both Autonomous Regions in the area of fisheries, namely the creation of a regional advisory council for outermost regions and the management of tuna fisheries in the Azores and Madeira."

The Regional Director for Fisheries revealed that "there is a scheduled demonstration of POPA Programme in Madeira on a date to be confirmed." 

Established by a regional ordinance as a tool for the management and monitoring of fisheries in the Azores since 1999, POPA has provided important information to the fisheries sector, particularly to fishers, researchers and the industry. It is funded by the Government of the Azores.

According to Luís Costa, "the installation of the office of the regional advisory council for outermost regions in the Azores" was another issue under debate at this meeting. This measure is "supported by Madeira" and will allow the Azores "to assume a leading role in the defence of the fisheries sector in outermost regions."