The President of the Government received the report of the Working Group created for the fisheries sector. The document presents a series of strategic orientations and concrete measures that will now be analysed with regard to their implementation.
 
"On the part of the Regional Government, there will be a more detailed and thorough analysis on the contents of this document, and, as for some matters, there is the possibility of reactivating measures that have already been in place. According to the Working Group, it makes sense to resume some measures at the present moment," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
After a meeting with this Working Group, held in the city of Horta, the President of the Government pointed out some measures that could be implemented, such as the Ordinance establishing support to the regional fishing fleet that covers the equipment of fishing vessels, insurances and the improvement of safety and operating conditions on board.
 
"Now, we have to analyse the financial effort that the implementation of these measures will require so that we may define a plan of action, the respective scheduling and the resources for its implementation," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
In March, the Government of the Azores created this Working Group by order of Vasco Cordeiro in order to outline structural measures aimed at improving the income of professionals in the fisheries sector and adapt the fishing efforts to the resources available in the Region.
 
The Working Group includes the Regional Director for Fisheries, Luís Costa; two representatives of Lotaçor, Rúben Farias and Luís Rodrigues; two representatives of the Azores Fisheries Federation Gualberto Rita e Lázaro Silva; researcher at the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the University the Azores, Gui Menezes, and a personality of recognised merit in the sector, Genuíno Madruga.
 
Speaking to journalists, the President of the Government stressed that the report is a "valuable and meritorious contribution" and, now, the Working Group will be in charge of monitoring the definition of an action plan and the deciding on the measures to be taken for the Fisheries sector.
 
The report presented today lists the opportunities, the strengths and weaknesses as well as the threats the sector faces, but, above all, it presents the strategic guidelines for Fisheries in the Azores, which must be followed to ensure the environmental and economic sustainability of resources.
 
"It also presents a component on the income of all those involved in Fisheries as well as a third aspect concerning the competitiveness of companies in the regional sector," said Vasco Cordeiro. The President of the Government also highlighted the issue of innovation, which is necessary to implement in the sector so that it may overcome the current challenges it faces.