The Regional Director for Fisheries stressed in Ribeira Grande "the importance of disseminating the positive things that fishing can offer," adding that "fishing communities, with their landscape and cultural heritage, are by themselves a product of fishing that can generate additional income for professional fishing."
 
Speaking at Porto Formoso fishing port at the arrival of a Fishing Tourism tour conducted by a boat licensed for this activity, Luís Rodrigues stated "the contact with tourists allows fishers to value their profession while transmitting teachings about the sea."
 
During the disembarkation of the tourists who participated in this tour, the Regional Director disseminated an information leaflet on Fishing Tourism, produced by the Regional Directorate for Fisheries, with the aim of contributing to the promotion of this activity in the Azores.
 
"The Regional Government has encouraged activities that bring additional income to professional fishing," the government official said, adding that the Azorean Government has "decided to exempt shipowners from  Fishing Tourism fees."
 
Approved in May at the Council of the Government, this measure intends to encourage this activity in the Region by exempting the payment of license fees and each shipowner may benefit from this exemption until 2020.
 
According to Luís Rodrigues,  Fishing Tourism, in addition to creating a complementary income for fishing professionals, intends to disseminate the traditions of the fishing industry, having as reference the successful experience of several European Union regions in promoting this activity.
 
"The fishing sector must take advantage of the income opportunities created by the growth of tourism in the Azores," the government official said, noting that, "according to some shipowners, there has been growing demand from tourists."
 
This event also counted on the collaboration of the Azores Fisheries Federation, which also aims to disseminate this product through the nine islands of the archipelago.