The period for submitting applications for the scheme to support the temporary cessation of fishing for sardines was extended to 20 days after the start of the halt and the conditions for eligibility were modified.

The Secretary of State for Fisheries, José Apolinário, advanced this Tuesday in Lisbon, that the Ministry of the Sea will pay, by the end of the month, 800 thousand euros to the fishermen for the temporary suspension of the sardine catch. "We will pay 800 thousand euros by the end of the month," said Jose Apolinario, during a parliamentary hearing at the Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries.

According to the data provided by the Secretary of State for Fisheries, so far the Government has already paid 1.8 million euros for the temporary suspension of the sardine fishery, with the approval of 90 vessels.

On 2 January, the Government announced an amendment to the scheme to support the temporary cessation of sardine fishing by extending the period of submission of applications from 10 to 20 days after the start of the break and by modifying eligibility conditions.

"The applications are submitted online by the shipowners, within 20 working days from the start of the stop, through the Balcão 2020, at www.balcao.portugal2020.pt", according to an ordinance published at the time in Diário da República (DR).

According to the diploma, fishermen enrolled in the Social Security and not just those who were as crew members, as defined by the scheme, are considered eligible for support.

On October 26, 2018, the Government stipulated, in accordance with an ordinance published in DR, the payment of 2,040 euros to the master of the vessel and 1,920 euros to the other fishermen for the temporary stoppage of the activity.

In order to protect the sardine stock, and following the recommendation of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), zero fishing, Portugal and Spain, with the agreement of the European Commission, have defined a which was established that the catch limit, to be divided between the two countries, should be 12,028 tonnes during the fishing season, directed towards the end of September.

On the other hand, the Government decided that the vessels licensed to operate from Galicia to the Gulf of Cadiz were prohibited from exercising the activity between November 1 and May 15, 2019. Additionally, in agreement with the sector, daily catch of juveniles, temporary restraint zones and fishing closure on Wednesday and at the weekend.

Source: OBSERVADOR