The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology announced in Horta the implementation of a restructuring plan for the fisheries sector next year, through measures that "contribute to the biological and socio-economic sustainability of the Azores.
 
Gui Menezes spoke at the Legislative Assembly during the discussion of proposals for the 2018 Plan and Budget. The government official pointed out some measures that will begin to be implemented already next year, namely the creation of an incentive scheme for the readjustment of fleets as well as the launch of a mobility programme for fishers between islands and between segments. Moreover, the creation of mechanisms for the reorientation of fishing professional was another measure announced.
 
About the readjustment of the fleet, namely "the less productive segments such as vessels less than nine metres long", the Regional Secretary added that the Government will "create an aid scheme for withdrawal of fishing activity, which provides for a maximum support of 30 thousand Euros per vessel."
 
The plan also includes the creation of mobility programmes with a projected investment of 150 thousand Euros in order "to adapt the number of fishers on each island to the fishing effort, hence ensuring more job opportunities and better income."
 
According to Gui Menezes, the fleet segment mobility programme "will focus on tuna fishing vessels, which currently register a shortage of Azorean crew members," while the island mobility programme "will be directed to younger fishers."
 
Gui Menezes assured that, regarding the reorientation of fishing professionals, "the implementation of a schooling plan involving one hundred fishers will be continued through the 'Valorizar' Network."
 
Also under the restructuring plan for the sector, the Regional Secretary mentioned that the Government will carry out an assessment of the "multipurpose fleet that nowadays is dedicated almost exclusively to demersal fishing. It should refocus its activity on tuna catches in certain times of the year."
 
In this context, the government official stated that plan also includes the creation of incentives so that "this fleet segment may diversify its activity."
 
"It is now time for the Azores to get serious in higher added-value tuna markets," stressed Gui Menezes.