The Fisheries Secretary General of Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Andrés Hermida, stressed the importance of cephalopods, a large and heterogeneous group of species such as the octopus, cuttlefish or squid, for the fisheries sector and as raw material that is essential for the processing industry.
On speaking at the opening of the World Congress of Cephalopods organized by FAO and Coxemar, in Vigo, Hermida stressed that according to FAO data, these products account for 5 per cent of all fish, crustaceans and molluscs caught in the world, and 4 per cent of the total volume of world trade in fish products.
In addition to highlighting the growth in demand for these products, the quality taste and nutritional properties, he said that Spain, Italy and Japan are the major consumers and importers because they are essential foods within the Mediterranean and Asian diets.
Therefore, Hermida reiterated the support of the Fisheries Secretary General to make it available for the sector the necessary tools industry to meet the challenges of the time.
In this regard, he recalled that under the Regulation of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (FEMP), an operational program has been approved and it includes measures and aid for innovation in capture fishing, aquaculture and fishing product processing, which can mobilize funds with an amount of around EUR 450 million for period it is in effect.
He also stressed the importance of the Strategic Plan for Innovation and Technological Development for fisheries and aquaculture for the period 2014-2020, as a reference framework of private initiatives of each fishery subsector.
In his speech, Hermida also stressed the impact of the World Cephalopod Congress in which the market situation is analyzed from a global perspective, with the participation of representatives from very different countries.
This forum precedes Conxemar Fair, which is to start on Tuesday, and which is an important showcase to publicize the latest advances in technology, services and equipment, and to strengthen trade relations.
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