Fishermen and fishing companies affected by the sardine fishing ban, which runs until 15 May, will be entitled to 60 days of public support.
According to a statement from the Ministry of the Sea, Minister Ana Paula Vitorino indicated to the General Directorate of Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM) to “prepare the regulatory decree for 60-day public support for fishermen and companies in the sardine fishing sector covered by the temporary stoppage of fishing in force until 15 May 2019'.
The socio-economic compensation measures start in November and are financed by community and national funds. The Ministry of the Sea estimates that "they will cover 140 seine fishing vessels and approximately 1500 fishermen".
According to the Government, with the closing of sardine fishing, the "fleet is now directing its activity to mackerel and anchovy".
Sardine fishing, maintenance on board and unloading, with any fishing gear, has been prohibited since Saturday, September 29, according to an order published in Diário da República.
The objective of recovering the sardine stock "justified the adoption of more restrictive measures in fishing throughout 2018, displacing the zero fishing scenario", explains the Ministry of the Sea.
The Ministry believes that "with this socio-economic initiative, the Minister of the Sea minimizes the impacts on the sector, advancing with a measure of a social nature to support fishermen."
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