Call to protect traditional fishing

Industry must escape conservation net, say councils

TOWN halls along the coast are fighting to save a traditional method of fishing from being consigned to history under laws governing a new protection zone.

Jávea, Dénia, Benitachell, Teulada Moraira, and Calpe are united in a call to the government to make the ‘ tresmall’ method of fishing with nets exempt from new environmental laws.

The Spanish government is looking to create a special conservation zone, known as a ZEC, and special protection zones for birds, or a ZEPA, along the Marina Alta.

However, while the local authorities support protection for the environment, the five councils oppose the potential damage to an industry they say is part of the heritage of the Marina Alta and essential to its local economy.

It puts local politicians on a collision course with ecologists who are concerned about pollution, the increased number of private leisure craft in the area, and the damage to the seabed caused by anchors and nets, and the need to conserve the banks of posidonia seagrass – said to be essential for the health of a fragile marine ecosystem.

Unlike large commercial trawlers, the inshore fleet uses a system of nets that do not make contact with the seabed. The tresmall system was explained to CBN by members of the Calpe fishermen’s guild – a wall of nets suspended across an area from floats that is on average two metres above the seabed.

The five town halls have made separate responses to Madrid and have appealed for the Valencia regional government to also make strong representations at a national level.

Earlier this month, Teulada Moraira councillors met with fishermen, yacht club representatives, and businesses linked to the marine leisure industry to hear concerns and arguments.

Concerns

The town hall underlined it was ‘ in favour of protecting the environment and the coast’ but it had concerns over the economic and social impact of imposing the new regulations of extended protection areas.

Calpe and Benitachell have also made strong representations while Jávea politicians unanimously voted for the protection of the traditional method of fishing.

The extension of protection zones come under a proposed programme ‘ Red Natura 2000’ and in its response, Jávea town hall said: “The regulations affect the coastline of Jávea, restricting the traditional method of ‘ tresmall’ which is a type of fishing that is linked to our municipality; affecting the culture, economy and quality of life of the people of the town and doesn’t pose a threat to environmental sustainability.

“Jávea council has always made known its strong commitment to protecting the environment but also to protecting the local fishing sector. The council will work together with both fishermen and other interested associations so that the protection of the natural environment and the survival of this sector are compatible.”

The motion was presented by mayor José Chulvi, who has already championed a call for legal protection of the posidonia, but believes earlier representations from Valencia to Madrid were ignored.

He said outlawing fishing would be a ' serious setback' for an industry that was already suffering and called for selfregulation for the professional crews.

The mayor said the historic method of fishing did not cause widespread damage to bird or marine life; especially when compared to other highimpact activity and especially in relation to the size of the tresmall fleet in Jávea and other Marina Alta communities.

“Any regulations aimed at making a more rational, respectful and sustainable use of natural resources of Jávea and the Marina Alta are good news,” he said. “However, this cannot jeopardise activities of high economic, social and cultural activity, such as our traditional fishing.

“It is a historic profession with a high capacity for selfregulation and which does not pose a threat to environmental sustainability.”