The public investment in the modernisation of infrastructures and of the fishing activity in the Azores will reach to 27.6 million next year.

From this amount, the majority of the funds will be used to the port infrastructures (9.5 million Euros), the Regional Programme to Develop the Fisheries Sector (8.1 million Euros), fishing fleet of the Archipelago (5.4 million Euros).

With regard to the infrastructures, emphasis will be given the Regional Programme to Renew and Expand fishing ports, in which the Government will invest 6 million Euros, and the programme to be implemented in the company LOTAÇOR to support the maritime and port activities in the fisheries sector with a 2.6 million Euro budget.

In turn, the “largest slice” of the funds awarded to the fleet under the plan is intended to finance its renewal and modernisation (5 million Euros). The document also stipulates that 300 thousand Euros will awarded to FUNDOPESCA for the allocation of subsidies to the fishermen whenever  weather conditions prevent the normal course of the fishing activity and 150 thousand Euros to support the motorisation of local fishing vessels.

Furthermore, the plan awards the amount of 2.7 million Euros, mainly addressed at actions in the area of processing and aquaculture (2 million Euros), and at the markets and commercialisation (400 thousand Euros), with the granting of support to shipowners’ or fishers’ associations on every island for the service they render in the management and development of the fisheries sector.

The government plans to spend 494,114 Euros in 2010 in the professional training of fishers, having awarded 1.3 million Euros to the inspection and management programme. From this amount, 150 thousand Euros will pay the fees concerning the appeal at the European Court of Justice, following the decision of the Court of First Instance on the appeal lodged by the Government in order to recover fishing exclusivity in the EEZ of the Azores.