The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries, Nuno Maciel, has called for changes to European rules that hinder the renewal of Madeira's swordfish fishing fleet. Maciel stated that this change is crucial for ensuring better safety and dignity for the island's fishermen, whose vessels are approximately 40 years old.
Maciel emphasized that the issue is not financial nor a lack of understanding with the national government, but rather the necessity of amending European regulations. He highlighted that the visit of the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, to the Funchal fish market allowed the commissioner to witness the reality and the urgency of the fleet's renewal.
Madeira's objective is not to increase fishing capacity but to improve the habitability, safety, and energy efficiency of the vessels. The Regional Government has allocated five million euros to co-finance up to 50% of the investment as a non-reimbursable subsidy, aiming to replace current vessels with more modern and powerful ones, which will also contribute to reducing the ecological footprint.
