The Coalición Canaria group in the Cabildo has celebrated the rejection by the current president of the Corporation, María Dolores Corujo, of the installation of new marine cages in Lanzarote, although it questions that, "once again, she concentrates on blaming everything on those who preceded her, instead of assuming her responsibility." The party refers to the latest statement from the Cabildo's government group, in which it recalled that the Regional Aquaculture Planning Plan (PROAC) was approved under the government of CC, with Fernando Clavijo as President of the Canary Islands, and with Pedro San Ginés at the head of the Island Corporation, without then opposing the areas established by that document to install marine cages.
"We must look forward," claims the former president, who stresses that "both the detailed study" of that Plan, "as well as the call for the tender on Thursday, November 18," were already approved by the current socialist government of Ángel Víctor Torres and "not by CC." Thus, he describes both steps as "unfortunate," which are based on what is established in the PROAC promoted by his party, without the Cabildo that he presided over opposing it.
Now, however, San Ginés has demanded from the opposition that the Cabildo demand the transfer of powers in aquaculture matters, based on the Canary Islands Fisheries Law, "to avoid the danger to future generations" that these marine cages would entail.
“We think it is very good that the president assumes the public commitment to undertake as many actions as are in our power, but it would be better to specify the initiatives, because the deadlines are running out and that is why if there is no ordinary plenary session in which to immediately debate a motion in this regard, CC will force the holding of an extraordinary plenary session for the urgent adoption of at least five agreements regarding the Regional Aquaculture Planning Plan (PROAC), the detailed planning of areas suitable for aquaculture, the tender for the current bidding process, and the powers regarding the approval of bases and granting of licenses in aquaculture tenders,” San Ginés emphasizes.
Four other CC proposals to stop the PROAC
In addition, after the meeting held last Friday at the Cabildo, in which the three affected town councils (Tías, San Bartolomé and Teguise) participated, as well as the fishermen's associations and the business associations, San Ginés questions that “if a true institutional political front is really intended, the president should have counted on all the political groups in the meeting, as well as with the mayors of Teguise and Yaiza, since both municipalities are going to be directly affected by the detailed studies of that PROAC.”
"Despite the contempt and the continuous attacks, slights and snubs from the president, we continue with an outstretched hand because, although we applaud her public stance, as we have said, we understand that her commitment is insufficient because it lacks concrete proposals,” added San Ginés.
Regarding these proposals, together with the request that the Cabildo assume the aquaculture powers, they include four others. On the one hand, they demand that the Corporation file an appeal with the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands against the order by which the detailed planning of the PROAC was approved last February, "if it has not already done so, or, if applicable, study the possibility of adhering to the one presented by the Tías Town Council."
It also requests that the Cabildo of Lanzarote "present in a timely manner (the deadline ends on December 18) an appeal to the Vice-Ministry of the Primary Sector of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, against the publication in the BOC of last Thursday, November 18, of the bases that will govern the public tender for the selection of a project for the granting of an aquaculture concession to be located between La Bufona and Playa el Barranquillo, municipalities of Arrecife, San Bartolomé and Tías."
The other two proposals are that the Cabildo legally study the relevance of requesting the precautionary suspension of the aforementioned tender and proceed, if applicable, to request it; and that "it promote, encourage and/or support the modification of the Regional Aquaculture Planning Plan of the Canary Islands" approved by CC, "both in terms of the general planning of the different areas considered suitable for its implementation in the waters of Lanzarote, La Graciosa, or other islands that consider it, as well as in particular in terms of the detailed planning of the ZIA LZ-2".