With the summer, driven by tourism and hospitality, there is an increase in fish consumption. We are sure that a measure like the one proposed by the fishing employer at the last meeting with the new Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and food, Luis Planas would be a spur for the market. In this meeting, the head of the Ministry of the branch picked up the glove proposed by the Confederation and left the door open to lower VAT on fish with the intention of stopping the decline in consumption experienced in recent years.
It should be noted that the decline in fish consumption in Spain over the last decade has fallen by approximately 11%, which has an important impact on the development of the industry and directly affect the balance in the diet of the Spanish.
Why is eating fish healthy?
Fish is a high-protein, low-fat food that provides a variety of health benefits. White meat fish, in particular, is lower in fat than any other source of animal protein, and blue fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, or “good” fats. Since the human body cannot produce significant amounts of these essential nutrients, fish are an important part of the diet. In addition, fish has a low concentration of “bad” fats commonly found in red meat, called omega-6 fatty acids.
In addition, a new study has shown that eating fish at least once a week or one to three times a month, in addition to taking daily fish oil supplements, may reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis. The results suggest that the omega-3 fatty acids present in fish may be associated with reducing the risk of Ms.
The Ministry listens and takes note of the demands of the sector
Although the Minister stressed that VAT reduction is a competition from the Ministry of Finance, it is a monster receptive and willing to support the measure from within the executive.
This meeting in Madrid, which was also attended by the general Secretary of Fisheries, Alicia Villauriz, also served to share other issues of vital importance to the sector. They highlighted the VAT case, which in other relevant European countries are below 10% (such as Portugal, the United Kingdom, Germany or France). This action is a “priority” for entrepreneurs, who already in the editorial of their last magazine insisted on the need to apply a superreduced rate (of 4%). “Spain as a country of deep seafaring tradition should be an example in consumer data, beyond the proven benefits that sea products provide as preventive elements of various pathologies or in the fight against obesity,” highlighted sources Close to the main association of companies related to fishing in Galicia.
On the occasion of this meeting the reality of the FEMP future was also addressed. For fishing companies European funds should also take into account the intermediate and large companies in the field of transformation and marketing. “All of them make up a very important part of the sector in Spain and generate a great number of jobs” they highlighted.
