After hearing its partners, the Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology has decided to simplify the procedures for the issuing of fishing from boat licenses in the Azores and create a crew list replacement scheme.

According to an order published in the Official Journal today, the Government has created a single document that comprises three compulsory documents for professional fishing, namely special fishing permits, the activity record book and the annual fishing license.
Nevertheless, the fishing licenses already issued will remain in force until the stipulated deadline for their renewal.

The fishing license is a document that complies with the obligations enforced by Community legislation. With the creation of a single document, the Government of the Azores aims to simply licensing procedures.

Unlike what happens in Mainland Portugal, the issuing of fishing from boat licenses for Azorean professional fishers does not involve any cost.

In another ordinance published today, the Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology creates a crew list replacement scheme for regional fishing vessels.

This ordinance allows the owners of fishing vessels to replace the non-maritime crew members without having to draw up a new crew list.

Non-maritime crew members are defined as the individuals authorised to board a fishing vessel without being professional fishers, such as cooks, fisheries observers or photographers.

The professional crew list, which is free of charges for the owners of vessels, is drawn up at the fishers' associations through a platform provided by the Regional Government.