Between 2015 and 2019, the Azores government has invested around €7 million in fishing infrastructure and in fishermen training.
“During the last five years we have seen the value of fish presented at auction increase by 21 percent. Between 2015 and 2019 we are talking about more than €150 million worth of transactions in the industry while the average price for fish has doubled from around €2 to €4,” said Vasco Cordeiro, the head of the regional socialist party.
Cordeiro underlined that the main objective of the fishing industry is “not exactly to increase fishing but to sell better fish to guarantee a better income for those who make their living from the sea”.
“The results so far show that we are on the right track,” said Cordeiro who added that investment in training must be maintained to be able to continue to boost the income of fishermen on the islands.
According to the President of the Government of the Azores “around 1,100 fishermen throughout the region have benefitted from training programmes” whether in relation to conservation and storage on board or linked to the sustainable exploitation of stocks.
“Training diplomas show recognition to our fishermen while also allowing them to have better conditions in which to develop their trade,” he said while stressing the continued importance of resource sustainability.
Local resident Lídia Raposo was one of three women who were being presented with the fishing diploma. She told Lusa: “I go fishing with my father but now thanks to this diploma I can take the boat out when he can’t.”