The Azorean Government, through the Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology has created an additional income support scheme for fishing professionals amounting to 350 thousand Euros as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This measure arises from the need to adopt measures to aid fishing activities in the Azores, guaranteeing subsistence conditions for professionals in the sector who are affected by the market disruption caused by the pandemic situation.
The ordinance approving this additional support scheme was published today in the Official Journal and covers shipowners, fishers, onshore workers and catchers who are not beneficiaries of Fundopesca.
This financial support takes the form of a non-refundable subsidy of up to 80% of the regional minimum wage in the Azores (533.40 Euros).
If shipowners are simultaneously owners of the vessels, they can only benefit from this support if their monthly income does not exceed the amount corresponding to three times the regional minimum wage in force, i.e., 2,000.25 Euros.
In cases when fishing professionals benefit from other type of financial compensation, this additional income support will be adjusted so that the overall allocation does not exceed a maximum amount equivalent to 1.5 times the regional minimum wage in force, i.e., 1,000.13 Euros.
Applications must be submitted through form on the Regional Fisheries Directorate website within 20 working days from Tuesday, April 14.
The Regional Directorate for Fisheries will be responsible for receiving and validating the applications and drawing up a proposal for a decision on the granting of support, within a maximum period of 20 working days from the date of submission of the application; payments will be made as applications are validated.
This measure is open to fishing professionals holding a valid seaman's book or a valid boarding permit, who work exclusively in the fishing industry and who have paid Social Security contributions for at least six months during the period from January 1 to December 31, 2019.
If financial support ceases due to false statements, the beneficiaries in question will be prevented from applying for fisheries support from the Regional Government for a period of three years.