It is a great pleasure for me to be with you today in beautiful Latchi and to welcome the 8th Fish Festival of the Municipality of the City of Chrysochous, an event that has now established itself as an institution and is a huge success every year.
It is a fact that, as an island state, Cyprus has always relied heavily on the services and goods provided by the sea that surrounds it. Fishing, for example, as the main primary activity in the marine area, although a small sector of Cyprus' economy, is considered particularly important because it provides economic and social benefits to coastal areas through the creation of jobs and the supply of high quality healthy products to consumers. Fresh fish and seafood is a food with significant nutritional value, a valuable source of protein and rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which are considered an integral part of a balanced healthy diet.
Government policy in the fisheries sector is fully aligned with the principles of the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy and focuses on sustainable fisheries management and the restoration and conservation of aquatic biological resources. In this context, our Ministry has set as its primary objective to support the fisheries sector and ensure the sustainability of the fishing profession through the protection and sustainable management of fish stocks, the support of fishing communities, the improvement of the fishing infrastructure and the working conditions of fishermen, especially small-scale coastal fishing, which is the backbone of the fisheries sector in Cyprus. Indicatively, for projects related to the development of the fisheries sector and the protection of the marine environment, €53 million were allocated for the period 2014-2020, of which €39 million from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the rest from national contribution, while for the period 2021-2027 about €55 million are expected to be allocated, The European Union will contribute 70%.
Events such as today's contribute substantially towards achieving the above objectives, highlighting in the best possible way our relationship with the sea and the goods it generously offers us, as well as the importance of protecting the marine environment so that we and our children can continue to enjoy these goods in the future.
Events such as today's contribute substantially towards achieving the above objectives, highlighting in the best possible way our relationship with the sea and the goods it generously offers us, as well as the importance of protecting the marine environment so that we and our children can continue to enjoy these goods in the future.
For this reason, I must, in closing, congratulate and thank the Municipality of Polos Chrysochous for the initiative, wish every success to the whole event and assure you that our Ministry is and will continue to support the remarkable work you are doing.
Thank you very much.
(MGM)
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