Algarve fishermen are facing serious financial difficulties due to bad weather, which has prevented them from carrying out their activity at sea, a situation worsened by the delay in paying subsidies for last year, sector officials told Lusa.
“What is certain is that it has been four weeks since the boats have not gone to sea and families have no way of earning an income, with situations already being very complicated”, said the person responsible for the Fuseta Fishing Shipowners Association, in the municipality of Olhão.
Speaking to Lusa, Sónia Olim recalled that fishing is the only source of subsistence for these professionals and that, without activity, there is no inflow of money: “By not selling, they have nothing to live on”, she lamented.
The official added that the situation is even more difficult due to the fact that the salary compensation fund for the closed period for octopus fishing, which ran between mid-September and mid-October last year, has not yet been distributed.
“This subsidy was enough for the many families who are experiencing difficulties to survive at least this month of bad weather”, said Sónia Olim.
Associations await responses from the Government
The Fuseta Fishing Shipowners Association has more than 80 members, most of them with small boats that carry an average of three fishermen.
Miguel Cardoso, responsible for , another association of producers in the same municipality in the district of Faro, agrees that “the response from the authorities is not as quick” as the beneficiaries would like.
“We are talking to the Government to see what aid tools there are and we are eagerly awaiting a response,” the official told Lusa.
Miguel Cardoso admits that during the winter the situation for fishermen is “always complicated”, but this year, “since January 16th there have been four storms, which prevented fishing boats from carrying out their activity”.
Impact extends to the entire fishing sector chain
The lack of fishing activity also affects businesses linked to auctions, distribution and catering, because there is no fish to sell and what little there is is more expensive.
Fifteen people have died in Portugal since January 28 following the passage of depressions Kristin, Leonardo and Marta, which also caused many hundreds of injuries and displacement.
The total or partial destruction of homes, businesses and equipment, the fall of trees and structures, the closure of roads, schools and transport services, and the cut of energy, water and communications, floods and floods are the main material consequences of the storm.
The Centro, Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and Alentejo regions are the most affected.
The Government extended the calamity situation until the 15th for 68 municipalities and announced support measures of up to 2.5 billion euros.
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