Azores approve €6.5m to compensate fishermen for marine reserves

The Azores Regional Government approved €6.5 million to compensate commercial fishing vessel owners for income losses caused by the creation of marine protected areas within the Azores Marine Park, to be paid out between 2026 and 2028. The scheme aims to ease the economic impact on fishermen affected by the new Regional Network of Marine Protected Areas, which covers 287,000 square kilometres and supports Portugal and the EU's conservation targets. It complements a separate national compensation package of up to €10 million agreed in January. The same government meeting also approved €3 million in aid for farmers and funding for the University of the Azores and a science park.