Fishermen from the ports of Tavira, Santa Luzia and Cabanas were prevented from going out to sea on Sunday and Monday, due to the closure of Barra de Tavira. The strong swell caused by the Levante led the captaincy of the Port of Tavira to impede navigation, but the ban was lifted today around midday.
As explained to the Sul Informação, Pedro da Palma, captain of the Port of Tavira, the decision to close the bar was due to the «swell of Levante, which has entered with great force».
This morning, the bar was reopened for vessels with a size greater than eight meters, but, in the meantime, it is already sailing without restrictions.
However, as of Thursday, the Tavira bar should close again. "From Thursday, the return of Levante is expected, and we may have to close the navigation bar again."
Despite admitting that this decision causes embarrassment, both for fishermen and maritime-tourist vessels, the captain of the Port of Tavira says that “safety is above all. It is better for people to live a few more years than to go out to sea in these conditions. About three years ago someone died due to the strong swell on the bar».
Although Pedro da Palma clarifies that the closure is due to the conditions of the sea, the silting up of Barra de Tavira also helps the captaincy's decision. «We have a silted bar and the swell is felt more in these cases», he explains.
Carlos Freitas is one of the fishermen who is prevented from going out to sea. As he told our newspaper, “the guys are angry because they can't go to sea. It is our livelihood».
According to the fisherman, «between Cabanas, Tavira and Santa Luzia, there are about 50 fishing boats prevented from working, in addition to tourism and sport fishing boats. None come out», he concludes.
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