DPM Simović in Kotor: Montenegro needs developed fisheries sector and sustainable fisheries

"Montenegro wants to develop a modern fisheries sector, in which the marine resources will be managed in a sustainable manner, while at the same time will strengthen the fishing fleet and competitiveness of fishermen, as well as valorisation of this potential through tourism consumption," Deputy Prime Minister Milutin Simović said today in Kotor.

"We want to manage responsibly resources, but also to preserve the specificity of our fisheries that has a multiple function, not only economic and environmental, but also social and cultural. We need a modern, sustainable fisheries sector that will employ fishermen and their families, and who will provide more and more tourist products for the specific products and fruits of our seas," DPM Simović stressed, who pays official visit to the Institute of Marine Biology, together with the Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro Aivo Orav, speaking at the presentation of the implemented IPA project for improving fishery, worth almost EUR 500.000.

In the past 18 months, the project "Strengthening fisheries control and management in fisheries" was implemented by the Spanish-Montenegrin Consortium Tragsatec-StudiobLasso, and financed from EU pre-accession funds. Through the project, the Fisheries Information System has been improved, fishing vessels equipped with electronic devices have been equipped to keep records of fishing activities and navigation. Improved sector of inspection control, fight against illegal fishing and navigation safety. In addition, training of all stakeholders in marine fishing for the use of modern technologies has been carried out.

"We need to have new legislation, built institutions, stronger inspection services. We did a lot.  We formed a new Directorate for Fisheries in the Ministry, strengthened the inspection, equipped the laboratories, through the project that we present today to improve the control system. Now the question is how to further develop fishing. This issue has special weight in the conditions when we have double obligations. We have an internal obligation and need to develop the competitiveness of the fisheries sector, to modernise the small and outdated fleet, improve safety at sea, provide sustainable catch, the traceability of seafood, food security, " DPM Simović underlined, adding that at the same time Montenegro has an obligation to coordinate the fisheries sector with the obligations of the EU fisheries policy.

"This is not an easy one, but we are confident that, with the continuation of support from our international partners, primarily the EU, as well as through already initiated or new projects (MIDAS 2, IPA 2018), we will make new steps in this sector. Fishing has come to the end. I know for decades the impatience of fishermen, their expectations, needs, the messages we often get. Together: institutions and fishermen, we can solve a lot of things. We will be stronger, safer and more productive, and in partnership with the EU, sure that the results will not be missed. " DPM Simović concluded.

The Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, Aivo Orav, said that the EU will continue to support further strengthening of capacities in the Montenegrin sector of fisheries in order to align with EU policy in this field. He especially stressed the need to raise awareness about the importance of protecting fish stock and sustainable use of fish resources. Ambassador Orav expressed satisfaction with the achieved results of the project, which is financed from EU funds of the pre-accession funds.

DPM Simović talked with the management of the Institute of Biology

In a conversation with representatives of the Institute of Marine Biology, headed by Director Mirko Đurović, DPM Simović expressed his satisfaction with visiting this institution, which, as he said, has a heritage of several decades, with built and encouraging scientific potential.

DPM Simović assessed that the Institute of Biology is a scientific institution that has the capacity to, together with the Ministry and fishermen, respond to the needs of the development of Montenegrin fishery, which challenges many challenges - development challenges and harmonisation with EU standards.

During the meeting was discussed the need for further training of the staff of this institution, as well as the contributions of that institution in further activities of the Ministry in the development of the fisheries sector. Particular emphasis was placed on the need to establish fishing ports in Herceg Novi, Ulcinj and Bar, building infrastructure at the places of first disembarkation, as well as continuation of activities in the arrangement of fish markets in the part of improving the standards of food safety, as well as other necessary infrastructure contents that need to be developed by the fisheries sector in Montenegro.