165 Fishermen To Benefit From New €270K Scheme

Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights, Alicia Bugeja Said, announced that around 165 fishers have benefited from a scheme with an investment of approximately €270,000, providing support to fishers in response to the increase in fish prices.

Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said explained that the scheme represents a direct form of support at a challenging time for the fishing sector. She added that the main aim of the scheme is to alleviate the financial pressure created by the rise in fish prices, a key element for the fishing industry. “Through this scheme, we are ensuring that our fishers receive the necessary support to continue working in this sector, which is so important to our country,” said the Parliamentary Secretary.

“As a Government, we will continue to work closely with fishers to evaluate ongoing challenges and to design further schemes and measures where needed, with the aim of keeping this sector strong and viable for the coming years. We remain committed to listening to fishers and addressing the realities they face on a daily basis,” concluded Parliamentary Secretary Bugeja Said.

In his remarks, Acting Director General for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Bjorn Azzopardi, explained: “Earlier this year, fishers expressed concern over the continually rising price of fish. As a result, the Department conducted a scientific study to determine whether price increases had influenced the swordfish and tuna markets over the past two years, and from this the scheme was designed.”

The scheme has benefited both MFA (full-time) and MFB (part-time) licensed fishers who are authorised to fish for tuna, swordfish, and albacore, providing compensation for the increase in fish prices over recent years.

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Photo Source: DOI - Alan Saliba