The Council of Tenerife Allocates this year almost one million euros, specifically 968,360, to the promotion of artisanal fishing on the Island. The island councilor for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Javier Parrilla, explains that “an aid program will be launched divided into four lines”. The objective is to contribute to the sustainability of fishing activity, promote the consumption of local fish, combat poaching and guarantee the traceability, quality and competitiveness of Tenerife’s seafood products.
The subsidies are aimed at promoting artisanal fishery products, supporting professional fishing and promoting the marketing of the Island’s tuna. Counselor Parrilla assures that “the objective of this program is to meet the demands of the fishing sector and respond to the difficulties it is going through.”
traditional activity.
The councilor recalls that “artisanal fishing is a traditional activity, which forms part of our history, culture and economy, with a social weight well above other economic sectors”, hence the importance of this subsidy programme, “which reflects the commitment of the current government team to artisanal and sustainable fishing”. The grant program is divided into four lines. On the one hand, the Island Corporation will allocate 400,000 euros to the acquisition of containers for the improvement of the commercialization of tuna from the Island. According to Parrilla, this aid will help the tuna reach its destination in optimal hygienic and sanitary conditions, “which will have a positive impact on the quality and competitiveness of the product.”
Current expenses.
The Cabildo will also allocate 140,000 euros to defray the current expenses of ten fishermen’s associations on the island to contribute to the maintenance of professional fishing, and a total of 146,755 euros to the promotion of artisanal fishery products. This latest aid, which will increase by 111,605 euros throughout this year, establishes the lines to boost, consolidate and make visible the collective brand Pesca Artesanal, which differentiates fresh fish products caught by professionals from the sea in the Canary Islands.
The Coastal Action Group (GAC), for its part, will receive 100,000 euros for the start-up of the Tenerife Artisanal Fishing Interpretation Center, located in Punta del Hidalgo, municipal, and another 70,000 euros to cover its operating costs, promotion and revitalization. The island councilor explains that this center will allow “disseminating and publicizing the cultural and traditional heritage of this fishing activity, as well as the natural heritage of our coasts in a graphic and dynamic way for public knowledge.”
Medium size.
The fishing activity on the Island of Tenerife is characterized by the medium size of its boats, by the limited power of their engines and by crews made up, in most cases, of members of a family unit. The artisanal boats develop polyvalent capture strategies, all of them with the sustainable category, to take advantage of the diversity of the insular ecosystems.
The brotherhoods.
The ten brotherhoods of Tenerife, for their part, advise and guide their members on the procedures that fishermen have to carry out, such as the daily management of permits, authorizations and procedures before the administrations, in addition to informing, managing and processing aid , programs and grants. The number fluctuates and is declining, but some 500 people are engaged in professional fishing on the Island.
Promotion of the ‘Vermut de Tenerife’
The island councilor for the primary sector, Javier Parrilla, presents the new promotional campaign for the Tenerife Vermouth project, with which it is intended to promote the diversification of the island’s wine sector. The event was attended by the person in charge of the Oenology Unit of the Cabildo, María Hontoria, and with representatives from five of the six wineries that produce vermouth, as well as sommeliers, clients and hospitality professionals. Parrilla assures that the objective of this campaign “is to help Tenerife wineries to open new lines of marketing and business.” He defends that “excellent vermouths are made here, an alternative to traditional products with unique ingredients such as artemisia or incense from Tenerife.” The campaign, entitled It’s time for Tenerife Vermouth, is aimed at young audiences and will run for six months. The island councilor recalls that this is the second promotional campaign for vermouth on the Island. «The first dates back to 2020 and had very positive results, which is why we have decided to repeat it. We believe that it is essential to promote awareness of this product”, declares Parrilla. The campaign will be carried out mainly on social networks, although it also includes promotional actions in restaurants and wine bars, as well as the use of billboards. During the event, which took place at the restaurant in La Orotava, God breeds them and the wind piles them up, the winemakers made a brief presentation of their vermouth before the cocktail show by Miguel Machado.
