The Regional Government, through the Regional Inspectorate of Fisheries (IRP), organised today in Ponta Delgada a training course for fishing masters on the use of the Electronic Fishing Log. Similar training courses will be held on all islands where there are fishing vessels required to implement this system.

This initiative falls within the goal of the Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology to increase the investment in training of fishers throughout 2015.

The Control Regulation on the EU Common Fisheries Policy requires the monitoring of fishing activities at sea for fishing vessels with length equal to or greater than 12 metres.

The catches are monitored through Electronic Fishing Logs, which are provided to the vessels at no cost. This system has been in force in the Region since January 2011.

The training course provided by the Regional Inspectorate of Fisheries was taught on an individual basis. Nevertheless, all fishing masters covered by this measure will attend will a revision class that will be held with the aim of clarifying doubts that have been raised and allowing the exchange of views among participants.

In addition to teaching fishers the procedures regarding the use of this computer application, these training courses aim to collect information on difficult situations arising at sea in order to streamline the future collection of data and improve the management of fisheries through the data already collected.