The sea determines the uniqueness of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, not only for the extent and diversity of its ecosystems but also for its potential for discovery The Regional Directorate for Fisheries has the mission of promoting the sustainable development of the fisheries sector and valuing the sea, a crucial resource in our collective identity as an outermost region.

We are aware that the situation in the fisheries sector requires consistent and determined political action. Therefore, we must pursue the strategy towards the promotion of human resources as well as the improvement of income and working conditions, while ensuring the sustainability of this activity in the Region, based on knowledge and dialogue with industry partners.

The Regional Directorate for Fisheries seeks to respond to a number of challenges: the sustainable development of the fisheries sector and fishing communities, seizing new opportunities in traditional and emerging maritime activities; the increase and diversification of income for families, companies and institutions linked to the Sea; the promotion of the Region's capabilities and attractiveness as a space of excellence for the development of research and innovation activities in relevant areas of knowledge projecting the Azores at national and transnational level.

Our proposals for the fisheries sector are in line with the strategy to respond to these challenges. They mirror the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and are based on: Qualification and capability building, meeting the needs of occupations related to the Sea and promoting the training of regional staff linked to the business sector; Products and innovation, streamlining the conversion of ideas and knowledge into added-value solutions and measures capable of generating significant sustainable gains in the regional productive fabric; Sustainability of policies and measures to be implemented, bringing together their environmental, economic and social values; Knowledge, promoting production and transfer of knowledge in all priority areas of the regional economy, with special emphasis on Sea and Cooperation, reinforcing partnerships and networking between the regional administration, economic and social agents, and the regional scientific and technological system.

We advocate policies that promote the precautionary and sustainable management of our marine resources with the important contribution of associations. In this regard, we want to ensure the support and participation of all industry partners in decision-making processes.

We want to continue these measures with a view to safeguarding resources and ensuring adequate income for fishing professionals by adapting work contracts to the reality of the fisheries sector. In this context, we also intend to improve the working conditions of fishers by investing in fishing support infrastructures and equipment.

We want to continue promoting the training fishing professionals and, accordingly, we believe that the Azores Maritime School will pay an important role in the training of our fishers, but also in the training of seafarers in general, leveraging emerging professions in this area.

We intend to develop policies aimed at strengthening the sector that will promote local development and foster a strategy taking into account the specific realities of each of our island's coastal communities, creating new sources of income for fishers through activities complementary to fishing.