Tías and Lanzarote reject marine cages on their coasts

"We want the Government of the Canary Islands to listen to us, to listen to the entire society of Lanzarote: We do not want cages off our coasts," adds Mayor José Juan Cruz

December 22 2023 (13:32 WET)
The coast of the municipality of Tías, where the installation of marine cages is planned. Photo: Tías City Council.
The coast of the municipality of Tías, where the installation of marine cages is planned. Photo: Tías City Council.

The City Council of Tías has presented allegations to the General Directorate of Ecological Transition and Fight against Climate Change of the Government of the Canary Islands to deny authorization to install marine cages off the coast of the municipalities of the municipality, San Bartolomé and Arrecife.

"We want the Government of the Canary Islands to listen to us, to listen to the entire society of Lanzarote: We do not want cages off our coasts. The planned aquaculture exploitation can only bring us negative effects both for the economic and environmental sectors, which are very serious. I am glad that other institutions and entities have also presented allegations," declared the first mayor José Juan Cruz Saavedra.

This week, the City Council of Tías has presented allegations to the environmental document of the project promoted by the company Yaizatún. The fishermen's associations of La Tiñosa, San Ginés and Playa Blanca, the city councils of Yaiza and San Bartolomé, the Island Council of Lanzarote, the Association for the Development of Comprehensive Climate Actions (Adacis), the Association of Diving Centers of Lanzarote (Buco), the Insular Association of Hotel and Apartment Businessmen of Lanzarote (Asolan) and the Tourist Federation of Lanzarote (FTL) also presented allegations.

The City Council of Tías alleges that the document submitted to the consultation process must be submitted to the Ordinary Environmental Assessment procedure, "given the characteristics and location of the project", which affects the Special Conservation Zone ES7010021 Sebadales de Guasimeta, whose northern limit coincides in part with the coastal edge of the municipality of Tías, and with the Place of Community Importance ESZZ15002 Marine area of the east and south of Lanzarote-Fuerteventura, included in the Natura 2000 Network.

In addition, reference is made to the errors detected in the Regional Aquaculture Planning Plan, in contrast to the requirements of the Biodiversity Service of the Government of the Canary Islands, and the lack of updating of information and relevant field studies; as well as the contradictions of the Environmental Impact Study in the procedure to be followed.

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