Canned fish, once a mainstay if the Algarve’s economy, is experiencing a resurgence as the Minster in charge of all things marine today gave an upbeat statement about the ‘economy of the sea’
Assunçao Cristas said that marine businesses' contribution to the national economy increased from 2.7% to 3% of GDP last year and boosted jobs from 2.3% to 2.8% of total, especially in canning and fish processing.
After a successful and upbeat meeting of the Interministerial Commission for Maritime Affairs (CIAM), the Minister said the review of the National Sea Strategy, adopted in November 2013, was positive and she aims to double the importance of the ‘blue economy’ by 2020.
Fish processing and canning businesses were "those that grew more significantly," but the minister stressed that other sunrise industries, including biotechnology, algae and renewable energy, are also areas of strong expansion.
Aquaculture "has many projects underway and to be started" involving a total investment of €40 million, particularly in offshore projects.
The Government intends to license new offshore areas along the Algarve's coastline for the 100% organic production of shellfish and fish, but Assunçao Cristas would not be pinned down on start dates because the projects are the subject of "careful preliminary environmental assessments."
There are no such environmental assessments needed for the Algarve’s offshore oil and gas exploration blocs as these conveniently are far enough offshore to avoid the requirement that the growing of shellfish is subject to.
According to a CIAM report, the marine manufacturing industry is has 56 projects worth €73 million to come on stream by the year end.
In canning, the investment is around €65.2 million, including 17 new and modernised plants by the end of 2015.
Fishing ports are set for an investment of €28.3 million between 2013 and 2017 and the EC grant programme for fisheries, where 66% of total has so far been allocated, should have the balance at allotted by the end of the year.
"We continue with our daily analysis to see if everything that is approved will be done. We have several areas needing more funds and we want to ensure an implementation rate of 100%" concluded the Minister.
When the current money is all spent, the new MAR 2020 programme can be started.
