The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has made a new payment of 2.4 million euros to a total of 424 fishing vessels as aid to alleviate the increase in the cost of diesel derived from the military conflict in the Middle East.
This second disbursement of the support line is structured through two ministerial orders. The first of them allocates 1.74 million euros to 75 shipowners and 115 boats that carry out their activity in international waters. The second order includes 680,000 euros directed to 280 shipowners and 309 vessels that make up the fleet based in national and community waters, once the submitted claims have been resolved.
These two new resolutions are added to the first payment, made last August, for an amount of 3.2 million euros, intended for 3,798 shipowners holding 4,034 vessels operating in national and community fishing grounds.
So far, the Government has authorized 5.6 million euros corresponding to the first tranche of these aids, which covers the diesel consumed by the fleet between March 22 and April 30, and has reached 4,152 shipowners owning 4,459 boats.
On October 9, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food made public a new list of beneficiaries of these compensations for the increase in fishing diesel costs. It includes almost 4,500 shipowners, owners of more than 4,800 vessels, who will collectively receive 9.9 million euros for the fuel used between May 1 and June 30, corresponding to the second time period of this aid line.
In addition, the Council of Ministers agreed on September 29 to increase by 15 million euros the allocation intended for these aids to the fishing sector and extend its validity until December 31, 2026.