The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology announced Horta new support measures for investments on board fishing vessels, which will focus on "improving safety and hygiene, working conditions for fishermen and also energy efficiency."
 
Speaking on the sidelines of a visit to the Fish Market, Gui Menezes pointed out these support measures "provide an indirect contribution to the income of fishers." In this context, he mentioned, as example, "the replacement of engines [already installed] by more efficient engines with reduced fuel consumption."
 
The Regional Secretary also stressed the importance of support for the promotion of fish products, including investments to create "better conditions in terms of cold storage and processing of fish, which will naturally influence the income of fishers."
 
This new scheme to support investments on board fishing vessels, as provided for in an order published in the Official Journal, is co-financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) under the MAR 2020 Operational Programme.
 
In addition to improving the hygiene, health, safety and working conditions of fishers as well as the added value and quality of fish products, the support is also intended for investments to reduce the impact on fishing on the marine environment and adaptation of fishing to the protection of species.
 
According to the type of operations to be carried out, fishers may benefit from the support to the duly recognised owners of fishing vessels, fishers and organisations of the sector.
 
Projects selected for funding are of collective interest and have innovative features at local level. They may benefit from a support rate of 65% of eligible expenditure, which may be increased to 85% in the case of operations with fishing vessels less 12 metres or to 100% for operations carried out by fishers' organisations.
 
In accordance with Community rules, operations that increase a vessel's fishing capacity or its ability to detect fish are not eligible.
 
Applications to support are submitted continuously until December 31, 2018.