The regional councillor for cooperation and fisheries, Roberto Di Mauro informed that the authority in Sicily is all gearing up to revive its potentially lucrative fishing sector, enacting several measures to boost the industry after years of decline. If nurtured, fishing could once again become one of Sicily’s primary sources of wealth. He also said that the extraordinary natural abundance of fish is not enough to ensure development. The fishing sector needs to be combined with entrepreneurship, investment and planning, says Di Mauro.
According to Di Mauro the region of Sicily has enacted legislation enabling central government aid to reach all types of firms that fish with nets, including tuna and swordfish fishermen. It has earmarked some 151 million euros for the sector over the next five years. It is notified that the resources will go towards modernising the region’s fishing fleet, preserving sustainable fisheries, managing fishing activities, creating services linked to the fishing sector, and promoting fish sales and the processing industry.
However, Di Mauro is not satisfied with European Union free competition rules which state that the fishing sector should not be subsidised. He disagreed in this matter saying that fishing firms needs government funding to revitalise the sector, renew the fleet of vessels and to provide ‘shock absorbers’ for workers who have lost their jobs. It is fact that Sicily’s fishing sector has in recent years been weakened by dwindling credit available to firms, a problem that needs to be tackled.
Di Mauro also explained that they need to attract fresh investment, guarantee access to credit and the more rapid disbursement of funds and economic incentives in the Mediterranean region. The cooperation between Sicily and the countries of the southern Mediterranean to create a “Mediterranean Zone” is a must now, feels Di Mauro.
