The government's policy in the fisheries sector is fully aligned with the principles of the EU Common Fisheries Policy and focuses on sustainable fisheries management and the restoration and conservation of aquatic biological resources, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Minister Petros Xenophontos said on Saturday, noting that around pound 55 million is expected to be allocated to Cyprus between 2021 and 2027, with the EU's contribution amounting to 70% for projects related to the development of the fisheries sector and the protection of the marine environment.
Addressing the 8th Fish Festival organised by the Municipality of Polis Chrysochous, in Paphos district, Xenophontos said that the Ministry has set as its primary objective the support of the fishing sector and the sustainability of the fisherman's profession through the protection and sustainable management of fish stocks, the support of fishing communities, the improvement of fishing infrastructure and fishermen's working conditions, especially small-scale coastal fishing, which is the backbone of the fishing sector in Cyprus.
In order to achieve this objective, he added, the Ministry of Agriculture also attaches great importance to the use of European funds, exhausting every possibility of securing European programmes.
Indicatively, for projects related to the development of the fisheries sector and the protection of the marine environment, Xenophontos said that pound 53 million were allocated for the period 2014-2020, of which pound 39 million came from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the rest from national funds, while for the period 2021-2027, approximately pound 55 million are expected to be allocated, with the EU contribution amounting to 70%.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
