BRAZIL: more subsidies to fisheries and aquaculture

This is how you could translate into English the new programme “Mais Pesca e Aquicultura” ("More fisheries and launched last year by President Lula da Silva. The objective is to boost fish production in Brazil. The initiative integrates explicit targets to be reached by 2011, such as the increase of fish production by 40%, i.e. from 1 million tonnes in 2008 to 1.4 million tonnes in 2011, or the construction of up to 20 landing facilities for fishermen.

This initiave is a framework that includes, or will include, a number of subsidy programmes to help the Brazilian fisheries and aquculture industries. Examples are: fuel subsidies for 18 million Reales (USD 7.8 million) for 2.230 vessels or financing, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport for the construction of fish landing terminals.

Other instruments that the Brazilian governement will use to channel the funds to fishermen are:

• the "MODERAGRO" programme (CUSTEIO PECUÁRIO TRADICIONAL) providing funds for purchase of fuel, lubricants, ice, bait, nets, hooks, labour-costs, insurance, taxes, freight, or maintenance and modernisation of vessels. Through this programme beneficiaries could receive up to 300.000 Reales (USD 131,000) aid.
• the "FUNDO CONSTITUCIONAL DE FINANCIAMENTO DO NORTE – (FNO)"
• the "FUNDO CONSTITUCIONAL DO NORDESTE – (AQÜIPESCA)"

More information on the above initiative and programmes can be obtained at:

http://tuna.seap.gov.br/seap/html/Plano%20de%20Desenvolvimento/plano_desenvolvimento.html