The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology highlighted in Santa Cruz das Flores several investments in infrastructures and equipment to support the sector. In this regard, he highlighted the acquisition of a tractor in March to support Flores fishers in vessel beaching operations in view of the operational difficulties resulting from the damage caused by Hurricane Lorenzo.
Gui Menezes spoke on the sidelines of a meeting with the Board of Flores Fishers' Association, as part of the Regional Government's statutory visit to this island.
The tractor, an investment of 30 thousand Euros, “is at the service of all Flores fishers. It is very useful for professionals operating at Lajes das Flores fishing centre, who, in the event of bad weather, have the possibility of moving their vessels more effectively to a higher area of that port," said the government official.
According to Gui Menezes, it corresponds to "a need that had been identified" after the passage of Hurricane Lorenzo, which destroyed the breakwater of Lajes Port and, consequently, left the fishing centre more exposed to changes of the sea conditions.
Following the passage of Hurricane Lorenzo, which caused damage to infrastructures and support equipment for the sector, the Regional Directorate for Fisheries had already carried out the necessary repairs in the fishing gear houses of Lajes das Flores Port fishing centre, the repair of the travel lift, the removal of blocks and the consolidation of the jetty at the Ponta Delgada Fisheries Port, an investment of more than 100 thousand Euros.
Gui Menezes also announced that “the maritime signalling of Ponta Delgada das Flores Fishing Port is due to start soon."
On Tuesday, as part of the Government's statutory visit to Corvo, the Regional Secretary met with the Board of the Flores Fishers' Association and visited some of the support infrastructures for the sector in which the Regional Government has recently invested.
In this context, the government official also mentioned the installation of a travel lift in Porto da Casa fishing centre, which included the construction of a platform for its installation, and the repair of the fishing gear houses, an overall investment of about 75 thousand Euros.