Measures to accelerate the licensing of investments in aquaculture are "in an advanced state of preparation", guaranteed this Tuesday the Secretary of State for Fisheries José Apolinário, in Olhão.
The member of the Government was in “his” council to preside over the commemorative ceremonies of the 18th Fisherman's Day and took the opportunity to take stock of the progress of Simplex for the aquaculture sector.
«We have a draft diploma in an advanced stage of preparation that aims to speed up the licensing processes for the exploration and installation of aquaculture activities, which in Portugal take, on average, between 2 and 3 years. It is important to create procedures to simplify the aquaculture licensing process. This measure is part of Simplex 2016 and is one of the measures on which we have been working intensively, together with the Ministry of Environment», assured José Apolinário.
In addition to announcing this simplification of procedures, long demanded by the business sector, the member of the Government also left clues for the leverage of any projects.
“By 2020 there are around 50 million euros to invest in the sector. Here I launch the challenge so that there is the capacity to present candidacies so that the maximum benefit can be taken from these community funds that are made available to Portugal», he recalled.
On the day dedicated to fishermen, which, as is tradition, was celebrated with pomp and circumstance in Olhão, José Apolinário highlighted that fishing professionals and industrialists in this county have known how to react to the changes that have arisen in the sector, giving as an example the Cabaz FrescoMar project , an initiative of the Fuseta Fishing Owners Association.
The mayor of Olhão António Pina reiterated, in turn, the local authority's support for fishermen, nurserymen, shellfish collectors and all those who, directly or indirectly, live off the sea, «not only because it is a sector that has a high economic interest , but mainly for its enormous social impact».
“We cannot ignore the number of families in the municipality that are affected by this issue. I want to make it clear that the municipality of Olhão will always defend the interests of professionals in the fisheries sector», defended the mayor.
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