The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, María Dolores Corujo, has announced that the marine cages of the current fish farm in Playa Quemada "have their days numbered", since the Government of the Canary Islands has rejected the company's appeal, which continues to operate in the area despite the concession expiring more than a year ago.
After the new report presented by the Yaiza City Council, warning of the pollution they generate in the area, Corujo "promoted" a three-way meeting in which she met with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands, Alicia Vanoostende, and with the southern mayor, Óscar Noda. With her, she states that she intended to "delve into the resolution of the current situation of this fishing operation that is causing a disastrous impact on the quality of bathing water and the marine ecosystem in Playa Quemada".
"The impact on the marine ecosystem in the area is being very harmful; and this is shown by the latest scientific studies provided by the Yaiza council, an analysis whose underwater photographs are very revealing of the effect caused for years by the operation of the 53 marine cages that are still installed, despite the concession period concluded last summer," says Corujo.
For her part, Vanoostende clarified the current situation of this activity: "Yaizatun S.A. should have vacated the cages of Playa Quemada in August of last year; and although they appealed this resolution, the Vice-Ministry of the Government of the Canary Islands finally rejected the appeal for not complying with the technical conditions for the renewal of the concession." Thus, she maintained that "now they have to finish dismantling the cages in that area".
"May time help the marine ecosystem regenerate"
The Cabildo affirms that they have received "with satisfaction" this decision of the Government of the Canary Islands "of non-continuity of aquaculture activity in this area of the Lanzarote coast". In this regard, it should be remembered that the battle against the Aquaculture Plan of the regional Executive, which opens the door to installing marine cages throughout the coastal strip between Arrecife and Puerto del Carmen, is still open.
"We are committed to the diversification of economic activity, of course; and we provide legal certainty to private initiative. But we demand a zero negative impact on our environment because that is the DNA of an Island that continues to be an international benchmark in environmental care," said María Dolores Corujo, adding that "the necessary horizon in this matter is that the cages be dismantled and that time helps the marine ecosystem of the area regenerate and return to its original state".
For his part, Mayor Óscar Noda reiterated at the meeting that the Yaiza City Council "has spared no effort to demonstrate, and has demonstrated with studies, that the operation of marine cages for more than 20 years in Playa Quemada, with a concession already expired since August of last year, has been very harmful" to the marine environment. "The latest scientific study that we presented this September confirms that there is a great regression in the seagrass beds and accumulation of mud on the seabed, results that we immediately sent to the Government of the Canary Islands to order the cessation of activity as the competent administration. It is what we have been demanding for years," he added.
Aquaculture activity in Playa Quemada began in 2001; and in the summer of 2021, after the legal concession period concluded, the cessation of exploitation was decreed, which gave rise to the company's appeal. Although they have not specified the date, the Government now affirms that they have already rejected that appeal, "for not complying with the technical conditions for the renewal of the concession".
