The Yaiza City Council understands that the "fastest and most effective" way to find a satisfactory solution to the granting of nominated fishing subsidies "is dialogue between the Cabildo of Lanzarote and the representation of the sector, the four fishermen's associations of the island."
The Consistory has spoken in this way, after the brotherhoods denounced feeling "deceived" by the Councilor for Fisheries of the Cabildo, Ángel Vázquez. And it is that, they affirmed that "believing in his words" they expected the Cabildo to increase "double" the subsidies to the sector in the 2021 budget, which was initially approved on January 29, and that finally they had been "reduced".
In this regard, the Yaiza City Council points out that the brotherhoods of Playa Blanca, La Tiñosa, San Ginés and La Graciosa are claiming 20,000 euros each for operating expenses, as confirmed by the chief patron of the Southern Brotherhood, Cristo Caraballo, to the mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, who held a working meeting this Monday with the marine representation of Playa Blanca together with the Councilor for the Primary Sector, Emilio Machín.
The four brotherhoods "presented allegations to the island accounts, arguing and requesting the inclusion of the items promised by the Cabildo", it is pointed out from Yaiza. “The brotherhoods ask the Cabildo to fulfill its promise to pay this year the 10,000 euros of the subsidy from last year that they could not collect due to expenses derived from social care, and 10,000 euros more from the subsidy corresponding to this 2021. It is the commitment acquired with the sector by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Ángel Vázquez”, explains Óscar Noda.
However, the institution points out that the current proposal of the Cabildo for the four brotherhoods is "that of a single bag of 33,000 euros, that is, 47,000 euros less than planned. “Fishing has been an essential sector that has not stopped working during the pandemic. For this reason, we understand that there must be a meeting point as soon as possible with the institutional commitment to offer greater support to the brotherhoods, including our Playa Blanca Brotherhood,” adds the mayor.
The Playa Blanca Brotherhood, where 16 boats are integrated, "unloaded 100,000 kilos of fish last year", according to the Consistory.
