The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology announced in Madalena that the Azorean Government has regulated commercial shore fishing in the Region, with special emphasis on line fishing.
Gui Menezes pointed out that, by regulating this activity, the Government "is allowing fishers who work on a specific vessel to fish from shore and sell the fish in auction."
The Regional Secretary for the Sea spoke on the sidelines of a meeting with members of the Traditional Fishing Shipowners' Association of Pico. According to him, this measure "contributes to increasing the income of Azorean fishers at a time of the year when it is more difficult to work at sea [due to adverse weather conditions]."
Stressing that this "was an old claim of Pico fishers," Gui Menezes stated that this activity can only take place between the months of October and March.
The ordinance published today in the Official Journal that regulates shore fishing applies to holders of fishing licences who operate vessels less than nine metres long as well as to crew members, provided that they are duly licensed to engage in commercial shore fishing activities.
The practice of commercial shore fishing only allows the catch of 11 species in the Region: white seabream, mullet, Mediterranean parrotfish, needlefish, anchovy, beaked chub, vadigo, golden pompano, triggerfish and moray eel.
The new legal document, which enters into force Tuesday, January 23, also stipulates that the first sale of the species caught from shore in auction becomes mandatory.
The meeting with Pico shipowners and fishers also addressed topics such as the projects for the works of Madalena Fisheries Centre and the construction of fishing gear houses in São Roque.
The Regional Secretary stressed that the Government of the Azores, at the suggestion of the Pico shipowners, has decided to change the project for the interventions to be carried out in Madalena Fisheries Centre.
According to Gui Menezes, the works intend to create "better conditions for the operation of fishing vessels" operating at that port, stressing that the project "meets the expectations of fishers."
The project includes a 20-metre hauling dock, a 17-metre mooring area, a 1,200 m2 embankment area, "a restricted area for fishing vessels," a 16-tonne column crane and sanitary facilities.
"We expect all procedures to be completed by the end of the year," said the government official.
This intervention, which will be carried out under the Sea 2020 Operational Programme, has an estimated budget of 885 thousand Euros.
During the meeting, the Regional Secretary also stated that the project for the construction of fishing gear houses in São Roque do Pico is already concluded, representing an estimated investment of over 176 thousand Euros.
The tender procedure for this contract work will be launched during the first quarter of this year.