In over 520 million the funds amount to euros that are available for fishing from the “Fisheries, Aquaculture and the Sea” Program 2021-2027, as emphasized by the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food, Christos Kellas from Alexandroupoli, where the 2nd Meeting of the Program Monitoring Committee was held.

The deputy minister emphasized the strategic importance of PALYTH for the development of fishing and aquaculture, emphasizing that these are sectors with a significant contribution to the economic and social cohesion of the country.

According to an announcement by the HYPAAT, during the meeting special emphasis was placed on the successful completion of the previous program, EPALTH 2014-2020, which recorded a 103.18% absorption in terms of payments, financing actions that strengthened Thrace and other regions of the country.

As mentioned, they were implemented 37 private investments and 5 public projects in the Rhodope and Evroswith a total public expenditure of 6.3 million euros, while 6 million were allocated euros for the modernization of fishing vessels, compensations and compensations due to coronavirus and the Ukrainian crisis.

It is noted that the new program utilizes European funds of 519.6 million. euro. Already, the financing of 14 Local Development Strategies has been approved, including the Eastern Macedonia – Thrace Strategy, with a budget of 5.35 million. euro.

In addition, Mr. Kellas spoke about the challenges facing the fishing and aquaculture sectors, emphasizing that “it is critical to ensure that fishing activities are conducted in a manner that is sustainable for fish stocks, while also addressing the consequences of climate change and invasive alien species».

Finally, he made special mention of the exports of fish farming products, which represent 70-80% of production, with Greek sea bream and sea bass dominating the international markets.