The collection of clams is totally prohibited in the area between Fortaleza and Areais, in Olhão, which covers the entire river front of the city. But, the nurserymen guarantee, the latest analyzes that were collected show that the quality of the water in this area of bivalve production, called “Olh3”, is now much better than a year ago.
In statements to the Sul Informação, José Florêncio, president of Formosa, revealed that the nursery cooperative he heads «has been collecting samples for analysis, together with the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), to see how the clam is doing, after the station closes. of Waste Water Treatment (WWTP) [Olhão Poente]».
«Right now, we are carrying out analyzes every 15 days and, thank God, the first results were positive, “B” came. better than the "C" that was before this ban», he added.
The analyzes that resulted in the banning of harvesting, on the other hand, “are from previous years, from a time when the WWTP was still operating”.
Despite the apparent good news, the lifting of the catching ban (ranked “D”) is not expected to happen soon. This is because "12 consecutive positive analyses" are needed to make changes, he explained to Sul Informação José Apolinário, Secretary of State for Fisheries.
"Following the ban, we increased the collection points from one to three and the frequency of analysis, which is now fortnightly, whereas before they were monthly," revealed the member of the Government.
With more frequent analyses, the time for the ban to eventually be lifted is also reduced. José Apolinário estimates that, if the analyzes continue to be positive, the reclassification “takes between four to six months”.
«Now let's do the second run and let's hope it continues “B”. And, from there, everything will be fine for sure. I think it will be faster than before. This takes time. It also has to do with the European Union, they are the ones who put pressure on us from that side», said, for his part, José Florêncio.
«The WWTP has closed, there are fewer sewers. I have to admit that, although we often talk about the Chamber, the truth is that things have improved a little and there is an effort on the part of the municipality – although it is true that it is not possible to remedy a problem that is more than 50 years old», added the president of Formosa.
If it is confirmed that the environmental conditions are substantially better, at “Olh3”, the 103 owners of the approximately 160 nurseries that exist here will certainly be very happy.
In practice, seeing a production zone go down from “C” to prohibited has a much smaller impact on the activity of nurserymen than seeing the classification improve to a “B” or an “A”.
Bivalves produced in an area classified as “C” can only be transposed for a long period to a transition area classified as “B” or sold to industry, with very low profitability. And since there is no defined transition zone, the second hypothesis remains.
In zone “B”, on the other hand, bivalves can be sold, with a much greater return to the nursery or shellfish collector, after passing through a debugger – in zones classified with “A” they can be sold directly to the consumer.
The clams that are in a “D” zone cannot go anywhere.
This situation led to the Union of Fisheries Workers of the South (STPS) - who just last week led a protest by nurserymen in Olhão – to demand that the affected nurseries and shellfish gatherers have access to compensation subsidies for forced cessation of the activity, similarly to what is granted to other fishermen.
A hypothesis rejected by José Apolinário, who assured that "a significant part of the nurseries did not make any production declaration in the last two years".
“Right now we are doing a survey to see if there are people here who do not have other sources of income, to see what we can do. We hope to have a survey of social situations by the end of the month», assured the Secretary of State for Fisheries.
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