The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated in Horta that the first sale of fish generated around 29.5 million Euros for Azorean fishers in 2017, representing "an increase of 15% compared to 2016."
 
"The figures have improved significantly," Gui Menezes said, noting that the first sale of pelagic species in 2017 generated sales of 6.9 million Euros, a growth of 35% over the previous year.
 
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with the Board of the Azores Fisheries Federation, the Regional Secretary for the Sea stated that tuna catches in 2017 "had a significant weight and boosted fishers' income."
 
The government official also highlighted "the good tuna catches" made by Azorean vessels in Madeira, which generated sales of 8.5 million Euros.
 
Still with regard to the fishers' income generated by first sales in 2017, Gui Menezes highlighted "the effort and the work" concerning the management of red seabream. According to him, it was carried out "in collaboration with the Fisheries Federation and industry associations," having generated sales of seven million Euros.
 
"The results were clearly very positive and were the result of the efforts of fishers and the measures implemented by the Regional Government," stressed the Regional Secretariat.
 
Fisheries control was another issue addressed at this meeting. In this context, Gui Menezes considered that "there is a balance in the monitoring of professional and recreational fishing".
 
"Contrary to the perceived notion, the data [regarding 2017] are not very different from previous years," the government official said, adding that, "with the means available, we are doing a good job in this area but there is always room for improvement."
 
The Regional Secretary stated that "the professional fishing sector is aware of the existence of problems that are not detecting on some islands." Accordingly, "it will be up to the Government to identify and ascertain if its action is the most adequate, being the sustainability of resources the primary concern."
 
Overall, Gui Menezes defended that "there was a slight increase in the missions and inspections" conducted by the Regional Fisheries Inspectorate (IRP) in 2017, registering an increase of 15%. He noted that the missions carried out comply with "Community requirements" regarding fisheries monitoring and control actions.
 
As for the criticism of São Jorge Fishers' Association about the impact of inspection on professional fishing, the Regional Secretary stated that "there is a balance regarding the monitoring of professional and recreation fishing activities."
 
According to Gui Menezes, the number of inspections on professional fishing activities conducted on the island of São Jorge during 2017 accounted for 53% of inspection activities; no infractions were recorded by the Regional Inspectorate of Fisheries.