The General Secretary of Fisheries underlines the importance of science and innovation for the fishing sector

May 20. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The General Secretary for Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Isabel Artime, stressed today that research and science are the main allies that the fishing sector has to face its challenges of sustainability, profitability and competitiveness.

For this reason, it has ensured that each euro allocated to items related to research, knowledge and training has a “strategic multiplier effect” and is a “guarantee for the future”.

Artime has participated this morning, in Gijón, in the inauguration of a technical conference on innovation in fishing promoted by the Organization of Artisanal Producers of the Principality of Asturias (Opasturias – Opp90), where he has reviewed some of the actions contemplated in the Plan of Recovery, Transformation and Resilience (PRTR) and in the program of the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (FEMPS), two tools that, he has assured, “favor a growing public investment in R+D+I”.

Within the scope of FEMPA, he has affirmed that a line of aid is being contemplated for innovation projects whose objective is to improve the sustainable management of fishing resources. These aids will promote, especially, projects aimed at improving the selectivity of fishing gear and that provide “innovative solutions”.

As for the PRT, the general secretary recalled that two aid lines endowed with a total of eleven million euros are articulated for projects that promote ‘blue’ growth and for research and technological development and innovation in fishing and aquaculture .

Likewise, Artime has assured that innovation will be “very present” in the actions and priorities of Spain during the presidency of the Council of the European Union, which it will hold in the second half of the year. He has highlighted the decarbonization of the fleet, strengthening the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to advance the open strategic autonomy of the Union and improving the decision-making procedure in the Councils of Ministers as the main proposals of the Spanish Government in this period.

Lastly, the General Secretary highlighted the “fundamental” role played by fishing producer organizations to achieve the objectives defined in the CFP and, in particular, the work they carry out to strengthen the value chain and that the sector fishing industry is profitable, competitive and responds to consumer demands.