Portugal’s Minister for the Sea, Ana Paula Vitorino, already has stated that "the economy of the sea will always be the future of Portugal" and now has decided the best way to generate income while doing very little is to authorise more private marinas.
Most of Portugal's existing marinas are run by the government through Docapesca but the minister intends to grant concessions to private companies, pointing out that there is a growing demand for ocean tourism and more marinas are the easiest way that Portugal can capitalise on this trend.
According to Ana Paula Vitorino, tourism currently represents 50% of the maritime economy in Portugal, but she sees marinas and water sport activities in need of further support and development.
Vitorino has identified "150 possibilities for recreational marinas and bases for activities related to water sports," giving as an example Peniche where the new surfing boom leads her to believe this area can offers further marine tourism opportunities.
Marina development has a habit of running unchecked as can be witnessed in Olhão where the council plans to exclude artisan fishing boats in favour of more pleasure craft and to increase the current marina to the west of the markets which will block the sea view, thus diminishing part of Olhão’s noted tourism appeal.
There also is room for improvement in fish farming, according to the minister who points out that Portugal imports 65% of the fish its population consumes.
Fish farming off the Algarve coast already has served to exclude traditional fishermen from their traditional fishing areas due to the large exclusion zones imposed by the State as part of the fish farming licensing conditions.
Local fishing associations have complained that thir members soon will have nowhere to fish as fish farming zones and exclusion zones around oil and gas production facilities will leave them with few productive areas in which to fish.
Vitorino expects parliament to approve her measure to make aquaculture licenses easier to obtain and said that there is funding for aquaculture projects from the 2020 grants programme where €78 million is up for grabs.
The minister has in mind other "business opportunities" in the area of new sea products and mentions the development of the energy sector, remaining vague as to whether she favours oil and gas exploration or alternative sources such as wave power.
Vitorino wants to see partnerships develop between the private sector and the State to run Portugal’s ports. This would offer a solution to the impasse in Portimão where a lack of investment in dredging leaves the city unable to attract larger cruise ships due to safety issues.
Comments
There are multiple layers of bureaucracy to penetrate for anyone who wants to own a boat in Portugal. There is certainly demand for more marina berths, and the yacht crowd is known for their ability to stimulate economy.
There are suitable sites, but who dares to invest that kind of money into a country that routinely dispossesses owners of coastal property