The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands has approved the resolution of the subsidy call for the 2024 campaign. These aids aim to compensate for the additional costs incurred by operators of fishing and aquaculture products in the Archipelago, within the framework of the Operational Program for Spain of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (POSEICAN-Pesca FEMPA). The total amount to be paid amounts to 7,099,785.99 euros.
This sum represents an increase of 15.58%, equivalent to 956,931.69 euros, compared to the previous call. This increase is due to the modification of the regulatory bases, which have allowed for an increase in the budget for ten sub-measures of the program. The purpose of these aids is to mitigate the extra costs arising from the Canary Islands' status as an Outermost Region, promoting the competitiveness of sector companies and professionals against operators from the European Union.
The 2024 call received 122 applications, covering more than 21,000 tons of fishery and aquaculture products. The subsidies compensate for the production of 20,568 tons that met the requirements, benefiting the production and marketing of aquaculture, industrial fishing, and artisanal fishing.
The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty, Narvay Quintero, highlighted that these measures are a "fundamental instrument to guarantee the competitiveness of a strategic sector for the Canary Islands, compensating for the additional costs borne by our professionals due to the remoteness and territorial fragmentation inherent to an outermost region".
Quintero recalled that the current department has resolved the calls for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, "thus fulfilling the commitment to update these funds that we assumed with the fishing sector upon our arrival," in contrast to the last payment from the previous legislature which corresponded to the 2020 campaign.
The importance of modifying the regulatory bases to adapt compensation amounts to the current situation and optimize resource use was emphasized. Support for artisanal fishing is increased by 20.3%, allocating more than 1.6 million euros to this activity, "deeply linked to our economic and social activity, our traditions, and the essence of our fishing municipalities".
The budget increase affects ten sub-measures. The production of artisanal fishing (sub-measure C1) is reinforced with an increase of 124.2%. Inter-island marketing of artisanal fishing (C2) increases by 7.3%; fresh maritime marketing outside the Islands (C3) by 9.3%; frozen maritime marketing outside the Archipelago (C4) by 6.2%; and air marketing outside the Canaries (C5) by 9.5%.
Regarding aquaculture, funding for production, breeding, and cultivation (A1) increases by 11.6%. Maritime marketing outside the Canaries (A2) grows by 9.3%, and air marketing outside the Islands (A3) increases by 9.5%.
Finally, the production of industrial fishing (B1) almost doubles its original budget with a 96% improvement. The marketing of industrial fishing outside the Canaries (B2) also sees a 6.25% improvement.
The full Resolution can be consulted on the electronic headquarters of the Government of the Canary Islands.
