Portugal allocates €12 million to modernize fishing fleet

Portugal has utilized nearly 12 million euros from the ‘Next Generation EU’ funds to support the modernization of its fishing fleet. Through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), the country launched a call for projects titled ‘Ecological and digital transition and safety in fisheries.’

The initiative has funded at least 61 projects aimed at remodeling existing vessels or constructing new, more efficient units. Key objectives include digitalization, energy efficiency, reduction of emissions through electric or hybrid propulsion, improved onboard safety, and the use of new materials to reduce energy consumption during navigation.

One notable example is the trawler ‘Atleta,’ which underwent work at the Atlantic Eagle Shipbuilding shipyard in Figueira da Foz. The total investment for this aluminum-hulled vessel amounts to 2.7 million euros, with the Portuguese government covering nearly one-third of the cost through an 866,600 euro grant from this specific fund.