The Regional Secretary for Natural Resources conveyed his satisfaction with the inclusion of several claims defended by the Azores in the report drafted by the European Parliament on the rules of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), approved on Wednesday. The new document provides an increase of 10% in the co-funding for Fisheries in the Region.

After its final approval, this regulation will establish a new fund for the period 2014-2020, replacing the European Fisheries Fund 2007-2013.

Luís Neto Viveiros mentioned the scrapping of vessels as possibility for "sensitive areas" such as the Azores as well as the funding of scientific studies for the protection of biogeographically sensitive areas.

The Regional Government has been defending with Community institutions and, in particular, with the Fisheries Commission the embodiment of the principle of biogeographically sensitive areas under the negotiations of the Common Fisheries Policy. This principle provides the establishment of a reserved area around the seamounts located between 100 and 200 miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Thus, the Regional aims to ensure the exclusive access of the archipelago's fishing fleet to fishing seamounts located between 100 and 200 miles, which has been safeguarded by an agreement signed between the European Council and Parliament.

According to the Regional Secretary for Natural Resources, the Region "has reasons to be satisfied" with this report, which also included the contributions provided by Azorean MEPs. One should also note the commitment taken to create support measures for the modernisation of the sector at the level of vessels, equipments and infrastructures.

Luís Neto Viveiros also stressed that the Azores have already created legislation that will provide a legal framework to regional or private projects with economic and scientific potential.