Undersecretary Rosa Quintana at a discussion meeting of the technical session of 2018 Navalia Fair. (Photo: Xunta de Galicia)

EUR 200m earmarked Galicia since 2009 for fishing fleet boost

SPAIN
Thursday, May 24, 2018, 00:30 (GMT + 9)

Since 2009, Xunta de Galicia has allocated almost EUR 200 million to improve the fleet through the promotion of a sustainable maritime-fishery activity between shipowners and crew.

This was highlighted by Undersecretary of Marine Affairs Rosa Quintana, during the opening of the debate table Construction of fishing vessels 4.0, framed in the technical days of the 2018 Navalia Fair.

The head of the Undersecretariat of Marine Affairs recalled that of the almost EUR 200 million, more than EUR 196 million were granted in the period 2009-2016.

She also stressed that in the last year her department made it available to the sector more than EUR 3 million with two investment lines. One of these lines was aimed at acquiring the first fishing vessel for people under 40 years of age and the second, aimed at improving working and safety conditions on board and limiting the impact of fishing on the marine environment, mainly through fishing energy efficiency actions.

Quintana recalled that there is a tangible commitment to the fishing fleet and its renewal in order to "consolidate its composition and ensure generational relief."

She also restated the commitment of her department to improve the energy efficiency of engines used by fishing vessels, to have "more profitable and sustainable boats."

In addition, the Undersecretary stressed that precisely in order to improve the quality of life on board, in the European Committee of the Regions an opinion including the proposal of Galicia for the future European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) was unanimously approved. In it, "it is restated the request to support and encourage the renewal of the fishing fleet in order to avoid the damage caused by aging," she said.

In this sense, Quintana said that they want the figure of 20 fishing vessels that the Galician shipyards have today in portfolio and other so many in anticipation of entry "are increased for the benefit of shipbuilding and the fishing sector itself."

Finally, she thanked the organizers of the fair for their work in creating a showcase that has already become the most important Spanish event and one of the most influential European meetings in the naval sector. In fact, in this edition Navalia managed to gather almost 400 exhibitors from 90 countries and house 600 brands.

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