Flanders to support fishermen facing sharp income losses
The Flemish government will introduce temporary support measures for fishermen whose income falls by more than one-third, in a bid to prevent vessels from being forced out of operation.
“With this support, we ensure that the fleet can continue to sail and that our fishermen continue to bring fresh fish to our plates,” said Flemish minister for marine fisheries Hilde Crevits.
The move follows support mechanisms made available by the European Commission for the fisheries sector. Flanders is joining the initiative with targeted aid for fishermen facing a significant drop in revenue.
A temporary scheme will apply to both the small and large fleet segments, depending on the scale of the income decline. A maximum of 3 million euros has been earmarked this year through combined European and Flemish fisheries funding.
“Our fisheries are in the eye of the storm; we see a direct threat to our viability due to the price explosion resulting from the Iran conflict,” said Karel Ackx, chairman of the Belgian Fisheries Producers Organisation (BFPO), formerly the Shipowners’ Association. “With this support, a forced cessation of our fishing activities is avoided. In this way, we maintain both the supply of fresh fish for consumers and employment, and we are not disadvantaged compared to fishermen in other European countries.”
At the same time, the Flemish government said it would continue encouraging the sector to invest in greater energy efficiency. According to Crevits, the fleet has already made considerable efforts to reduce fuel consumption, and those efforts will now receive additional support.
#FlandersNewsService | © JOHN THYS / AFP
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