Fishermen and surfers gathered this Sunday in La Santa to demonstrate against an underwater brine emissary, which is expected to be located 400 meters off the coast of La Santa, in Tinajo. The installation is part of the new desalination plant to supply drinking water to the agricultural and livestock farms in the northwest of Lanzarote, an initiative that the primary sector and water sports users do not oppose, but they do oppose the possible consequences that the discharge of brine and chemical products could have for marine flora and fauna as well as for surfers in the world-renowned Ola del Quemao.
According to the organizers, there were about 300 people who gathered to protest in La Santa, among whom there were also farmers. On Thursday, January 19, the Tinajo City Council approved an institutional declaration to oppose the location of the brine discharge outlet.
The primary sector and nautical athletes defend "no to the brine emissary and other chemicals. Yes to the defense of the sea and its nature. Yes to irrigation water. Yes to nautical sports, fishing and landscape defense".
On the other hand, the affected groups and other citizens of the municipality of Tinajo demand “clear and transparent information” about the project, which, according to the primary and sports sector, contemplates an emissary of brine and other products, a desalination plant, a 70-meter high windmill, two collection wells and a deposit next to the current La Santa treatment plant and its buildings, reception ponds in the El Cuchillo mountain and west of Tinache with their corresponding channels.
They are aware of the urgency of having irrigation water in the area and defend food sovereignty, since “the availability of zero-kilometer agricultural products is the only path towards real sustainability, beyond so many years of empty words.”
They defend that “citizen participation in strategic projects allows reaching consensus decisions that benefit the entire community, both in its benefits and when it comes to minimizing its effects and impacts.”
Read the full story in La Provincia.