A new decree has placed the jurisdiction and administration of all fishing ports and marinas throughout the country under Docapesca, according to the Official Gazette today.
In the Algarve, this means Docapesca now controls all ports and marinas - Baleeira, Lagos, Alvor, Ferragudo, Portimao Marina and the Arade River basin, the Rio Arade, Albufeira, Vilamoura, Quarteira, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Fuseta, as well as Vila Real de Santo António and Mértola.
Docapesca Porto e Lotas SA, a public company operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Sea, now runs all of these sites that until now came under the control of the Port and Maritime Transport Institute.
This change, according to the Government, is intended to rationalise and create greater efficiency in the management of fishing ports and marinas.
Moreover, 'Docapesca is already in charge of the management of the downstream economic activity of fishing ports, and this move will enable the management of the whole as an integral business,' according to the decree announcement preamble.
The decree defines Docapesca as Portugal’s new port authority, a task hitherto exercised by the Port and Maritime Transport Institute, as well as giving it the 'human and financial resources, and materials necessary for the continuation of these functions.'
The Port Authority is now on its last legs and now has nothing to direct or manage. A few legal steps need to be taken before it can be wound up, which is the government’s intention.
Port security and dredging already have been handed over to the General Directorate of Natural Resources, Security and Maritime Services, and the management of the Algarve’s commercial ports in Portimão and Faro have been handed over to the Port of Sines Administration SA, which will now be known as APS - Port Authority of Sines and the Algarve SA.
