The Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP) party has welcomed the Regional Government's announcement of €870,000 in support to alleviate the impact of rising fuel costs on fisheries, aquaculture, and fish processing.
However, JPP criticized what it termed "political exploitation" by the Regional Government, noting that the funding is part of the MAR 2030 program and financed by European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (FEAMPA) and national funds. Deputy Jèssica Teles stated that mobilizing such instruments is a regional government obligation and questioned the specifics of how much aid would reach the sector and when.
The party highlighted a 19.1% decrease in fish catches in the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year, with first-sale values dropping by approximately €2.9 million. JPP argues these figures reveal significant sector difficulties beyond fuel costs. They advocate for European funds to modernize fleets, improve working conditions, and encourage generational renewal, rather than merely addressing temporary issues.
