The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated today that the amendments to FUNDOPESCA have made "its activation fairer, faster and more transparent," adding that the Regional Government takes the "political commitment" of ensuring the "full implementation of all amendments" to the salary compensation fund for fishers" in the shortest amount of time."

Fausto Brito e Abreu spoke at the Legislative Assembly during the discussion of an amendment proposal to the regional legislative decree regulating FUNDOPESCA, which was approved unanimously.

"This proposal, which was agreed on by all parties at the Parliament, brings some improvements over the current regulation of FUNDOPESCA," said the Regional Secretary. "In the current legal framework, the period from the time when fishers are going through difficulties and their income reduces due to bad weather until the moment they apply for the compensation fund and receive financial support can go up to several weeks."

In this sense, the proposal approved today will allow the reduction of the time period between the loss of income and the effective payment of the salary compensation.

The Regional Secretary for the Sea also said that the new regulation will also effectively tackle some situations of fraud with the submission of an insurance policy that is valid in certain months of the year. According to him, "there is no reason to lighten the rigour with which the beneficiaries FUNDOPESCA of are checked."

In his speech, Brito e Abreu recalled that this salary compensation fund "does not solve all the challenges the fisheries sector faces," stressing that "this is not its goal."

The government official also highlighted "the persistence of Azorean fishers in a challenging scenario," stressing that there is "an atmosphere of unity and cooperation in the sector."

"The Government of the Azores has been working to cultivate trust and cooperation in the sector, avoiding conflicts between vessel owners and fishers, between fishers from different islands, and between the regional administration and the fisheries sector," said Brito e Abreu.