Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr. Tzvetan Dimitrov and Executive Director of NAFA Yavor Nedev opened the European Forum of Local Action Fishing Groups to which Bulgaria is host.
The event is the first of such scale in fisheries sector and more than 130 representatives from different EU Member States took part in it.. Among the official guests at the opening ceromony were Mr. Stephanos Samaras, representing the European Commission
(DG Fisheries & Maritime Affairs and Mr.Paul Sato, CEO of FAR-NET( The European Fisheries Areas Network).
" Bulgarian Government is committed to the problems of fisheries sector and therefore there is political will to become an active and useful partner not only for the employed in this sector, but for the European Commission and in particular, the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said during the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister Dimitrov. He stressed that the future of fisheries and aquaculture in the country is closely connected with the construction of Local Action Fishing Groups because this way sustainable development of fisheries areas can be ensured and thus to improve quality of life withon them. "I am convinced that with the implementation of the Local Action Fishing Groups strategies and the absorption of EU funds the appearance of the fisheries sector may be changed ", added Deputy Minister Dimitrov Tzvetan. In conclusion, he assured the participants in the meeting that in the face of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food they have a partner for the formation of a sustainable fisheries sector.
In his turn, Executive Director of NAFA handed certificates to the first three officially recognized of Local Action Fishing Groups in Bulgaria.. Yavor Nedev said that with the recognition of the first local action groups in our fisheries branch, the sector registers its progress and catches up the delay.
Mr. Stephanos Samaras from the EU DG MARE congratulated the Managing Authority (NAFA) of OP Fisheries for the efforts and progress made in the utilization of funds under the Operational Programme and in relation to implementation of the Priority Axis 4: Sustainable development of fisheries areas" in Bulgaria.