Not one more license for those who do not use the ones they already hold in the Armona Pilot Area for Aquaculture Production (APPA Armona) and the authorization for local fishing professionals to use the concessions, which are not producing, to carry out their activity. These were the main demands of the fishermen of Culatra in the protest they promoted this Wednesday, May 31st, where they denounced "the state of abandonment of the APPA in Armona and the ban on traditional small-scale fishing within it."
Dozens of boats belonging to the artisanal fishing fleet of this fishing community in the municipality of Faro they took to sea yesterday, Fisherman's Day, as a form of protest against what the members of the Association of Residents of Ilha da Culatra (AMIC) consider a harmful situation not only for fishermen, but for the country. This is because, they accuse, there are areas of the APPA in Armona that are no longer explored and maintained.
It is not new that Culatra's fishing professionals are against this area of aquaculture production. Offshore aquaculture was installed in an area that had long been used by local seafarers to carry out their activity. And if, at the beginning, there was an attempt to try to stop the whole process, today they are asking, at least, for authorization to fish in areas where there is no aquaculture production.
«This area was created in 2008, as a Pilot Project, what is certain is that it has not had the expected economic effects to date, since it is not being used for the purpose for which it was created», stated the AMIC, in the press release where he announced this protest.
The representatives of the culatrenses denounced the "state of abandonment" of some lots of the APPA in Armona, which they have been warning the authorities of.
O Sul Informação followed the protest at sea and verified that there is an APPA signal buoy stranded in the middle of the sandy beach of Ilha da Armona. «Two were already there, as well as several of these smaller buoys, which have since been removed», guaranteed the association's leader Sílvia Padinha.
The demonstration left the Port of Abrigo da Culatra, but went to the place of discord, the allegedly abandoned concessions belonging to the Companhia de Pescarias do Algarve. This company already has eight concessions in the APPA in Armona which, the fishermen from Culatra claim, are not using it, but it has already applied for the use of more lots.
According to the association, as part of the public consultation process for attributing the title of private use of the Maritime Space for six lots at APPA Armona, AMIC sent a letter «requesting the rejection of the attribution of these titles», to which it attached photographs «proving in I place this state of abandonment, and that puts at risk the navigation of all the vessels that enter and leave the Lavajo bar».
"The response we have received from the ministry is that the case is being analyzed", revealed Sílvia Padinha, who is not resigned to the fact that the island's fishermen are prevented from using one of its traditional fishing spots, despite the fact that it is not be taken advantage of by anyone.
«So much space prohibited to small fishing for anything, is something that is not understood. It's a shame. They took away a fishing area to do nothing here, it only produces garbage”, defended the AMIC leader.
For fishing professionals, especially for the owners of 70 local fishing vessels on the island, the APPA da Armona is seen as the promoter of financial loss. Because, without being able to fish here, Culatra's fishermen have to travel further afield, which entails more expenses.
«Given the state of abandonment in which APPA Armona is found, this association believes that this area should be relocated and that, in unused lots, it is possible for our fishermen to develop their activity. Despite all the contacts made over the last few years, we were not given any alternative in order to safeguard traditional small-scale fishing», concluded the AMIC.
See the photos of the protest of the fishermen of Culatra:
Photos: Hugo Rodrigues| Sul Informação
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