Associations representing the fishermen and shellfishermen of Olhão and Faro want the ‘Armona island pilot area for aquaculture production’ (APPAA) reduced in size as it is not being used, yet locals are prohibited from fishing there.
Six years after the governmenmt created this special, non-fishing area, off Armona, "more than 50% percent of the area occupied by APPAA is not being exploited,” according to local groups who question the government’s assessment of the economic viability of the project and want the area it covers re-opened.
The fishermen argue, in a letter to the Secretary of State, that the APPAA was implemented over an important coastal area which "inhibits the entry and exit of vessels to the sea in safety.” “The area in question occupies a considerable area of the water which continues to have a negative impact on the traditional fisheries and aquaculture sector.”
The associations propose that there should be an in-depth analysis to assess whether the objectives of the APPAA have been achieved, as well as a detailed analysis to reduce the size of the area, thus freeing up the area that has not been used since it was created.
The government is not exactly welcomed at this part of Portugal’s south coast yet the fishermen are stoic, saying that they are not against the Ministry of Agriculture, Sea & Environment and its designated areas, even the production area of Armona, but if areas are blocked and are not even being used they should be returned to them to enable fishing to recommence.
