Azores offer support to fishermen affected by marine protections
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The government of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal, opened applications for a program to compensate fishermen for income lost due to new marine protected areas.
On September 10th, the Azorean government approved 6.5 million euros to distribute through 2028, addressing potential revenue declines from fishing restrictions within the Azores Marine Park.
This funding, transferred annually from the Environmental Fund overseen by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, aims to lessen the immediate financial impacts on commercial fishing and help businesses adapt to the changes. The program focuses on owners and operators of fishing vessels registered in Azorean ports. To qualify for compensation, vessels must have been licensed and have made landings in the region for at least three years between 2020 and 2024.
They also need to have fished in areas of the Marine Park designated as Total or High Protection for the same three-year period. The amount each fisherman receives will depend on their past fishing activity and how much of their usual fishing grounds are now restricted. Fishermen can submit applications online for 20 business days, and the government will notify them of their decision within 60 days. The new regional network of marine protected areas covers 287,000 square kilometers.
