The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated today that proposal for Regional Legislative Decree on the first sale of fish "adapts the national framework in force to the reality of the archipelago" of the Azores.
 
Fausto Brito e Abreu spoke at the end of a hearing at the Committee on Economic Affairs of the Legislative Assembly. He defended that the new scheme will stimulate the entry of more buyers, find alternatives to the first sale, development the labelling of fish and regulate the first sale of fish. In this context, he reminded that these measures make up the strategic document "Better Fisheries, More Income," presented in April 2015.
 
The Regional Secretary for the Sea stressed that, through this legal document, we will counter market evasion, ensure better hygiene and health conditions of fishing products, find new markets and local development dynamics, and increase the income of fishers.
 
Brito e Abreu also stressed that the document, in line with the new EU Common Fisheries Policy, enables the creation of specific locations of direct fish sales on several islands as well as the establishment of rules for the labelling of Azorean fish.
 
According to the government official, this legal document "regulates the labelling of fish and the direct sales from fishers to final consumers in certain fishing ports that are far away from fish markets."
 
In this context, this measure will allow the access of tourists and locals who live away from urban areas to fresh fish, while contributing to the increase of fishers' income.
 
Brito e Abreu pointed out Ribeira Quente and Mosteiros (São Miguel), Fajã de Santo Cristo and Topo Port (São Jorge), Calhau da Piedade (Pico) and Ponta Delgada (Flores) as some of the locations of the archipelago that will have a collection point for direct sale. According to him, the maximum limit is set at 50 Euros per day or 30 kilos per day and per shipowner.
 
The Regional Secretary for the Sea stressed that this diploma also aims to create a legal scheme that will regulate the allocation of fish and the remuneration in kind paid by shipowners to fishers.
 
This proposal also provides for the establishment of a proper infringement scheme, reducing the minimum amount of offences from 500 Euros, which by Brito e Abreu considered as "exaggerated for minor infractions," to 125 Euros.
 
The maximum amounts in force will not be changed by this proposal.