The Culatra Island Residents Association (AMIC) has come out against the installation of a 100,000 square meter mollusc-farm in a natural area. A notice published by the Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM) on the 19th of November warned the Culatra Island Residents Association (AMIC) of the approval of the site in an area of the Ria Formosa Natural Park belonging to the municipality of Olhão, and under the jurisdiction of the captaincy of the port of Olhão.
"It's like cutting the umbilical cord that connects Culatra to Olhão," says Sílvia Padinha, AMIC's president. “This is because, if granted, the license will allow the site to occupy an area identified as a natural bank area right in front of our houses and town.” According to the leader, it is an area containing wild flora on which several small-scale shellfish farmers who do not have their own farms depend.
"This natural bank has always existed in Ria Formosa and is the main, if not the only, subsistence of many shellfish owners who do not have any farm concession," she said in a statement. In addition, Ria Formosa “plays the role of mother nature for the clams, cockles and others that are born and grow naturally. We know that both Ria Formosa natural banks and marine prairies must be protected by appropriate legislation,” says Sílvia Padinha.
According to the DGRM notice, the bank was acquired by the company Bivalvia - Mariscos da Formosa, Lda, for the installation of a farm in marine waters that is intended for the growth and fattening of Portuguese oysters (Crassostrea angulata). ), Japanese oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and Black clams (Ruditapes decassatus) in an area of 100,002 square meters.
Sílvia Padinha hopes that the Ria Formosa Natural Park will be able to protect itself from the farm as part of the public consultation process, which is ongoing until the 13th of December. “We are aware of this plan and we still have time to react. Who knows what other business intentions are being devised for Ria Formosa? ” questioned the AMIC chairwoman.
“We know that instead of sustained use of these resources we are seeing a commercial exploitation that will take up an area of about 10 hectares, nothing more than a business objective of intensive and exhaustive exploitation of the fragile and sensitive Ria ecosystem, putting the balance at risk whilst fully aware of the need to preserve that balance to ensure our livelihood”, defends the leader.
Cementing her opposition to the DGRM’s approval, she stated that “we express our deepest objection to any exploration to be installed in a natural bank area and on the Ria Formosa marine prairies.”
“Ria Formosa is a lagoon system of prime importance for the people who depend on it and, in particular, for those who live in the Ria. Perhaps better than anyone, we are aware of the need to preserve natural resources and the environment for sustainable development.
According to the DGRM notice, all interested parties can “object to the attribution” of this approval, until December 13th, by emailing: mail.da@dgrm.mm.gov.pt
