The mayor of Tacoronte, José Daniel Díaz (NC), regrets the delay of the fishing refuge and affirms that he continues to insist that the environmental impact report that is missing for re-tender the work “be as soon as possible”. The local government of PSOE-NC-SSP has waited since 2019 for this document, which must be processed between the Government of the Canary Islands and the Coasts, and continues to insist with Puertos Canarios and the regional Government that this step be taken sooner rather than later. Díaz insists that he does not depend on the northern City Council and does not hide his unease when he realizes that the times of certain procedures are eternal.
Rodríguez’s commitment
José Daniel Díaz does appreciate that the regional vice president and Minister of Economy of the Government of the Canary Islands, Román Rodríguez (NC), has assumed the commitment to provide the necessary financing for the El Pris refuge “As soon as we have that impact statement.” A commitment made by Rodríguez in a meeting with the fishermen of El Pris.
On his visit to Tacoronte last March, Roman Rodriguez He said that “as soon as this procedure is approved, there will be no problems for the Government to finance the work and the 19 fishermen from El Pris can continue to carry out this activity safely.” With the money insured, in Tacoronte they do not see so far the action that would end the maneuverability difficulties that currently exist in bad sea conditions, which on many occasions prevent them from going out to fish for several months a year.
After being announced in 2015 and later modified, in 2017, since 2019 the project has been blocked while the new environmental impact report of the 45-meter dike is drawn up, which should protect the docking ramp and the crane area.
The work was valued in 2015 at 299,000 euros and had a 15-meter dike. The contest was void and the Canary Islands Government modified it and put it out to tender again, in March 2018. The dam was extended to 45 meters and had double the budget: 600,000 euros. It went out to the contest and again no company appeared. The third project was more ambitious, costing almost 2 million euros, but it has not yet passed the environmental impact report process.
This action is a historic demand that would bring new life to the battered local fishing sector, since it would allow fishermen to go out to work between 60 and 90 more days a year. Two or three more months to fish would be a great improvement for the sector and also for the restaurants that sell fish in the region. At present, the fishermen of El Pris can barely work about 6 months a year, but with the refuge they aspire to go out fishing for between 8 and 9 months, even in winter.
The only solution
Fishermen have been insisting for years that the only thing that could improve this “difficult and dangerous” situation is the construction of “a small breakwater to protect the bay, the ramp and the crane from the strong waves that hit the north coast of Tenerife for more six months a year. Investments to improve the dock ramp or the crane are always welcome, but the reality is that if a dock is not built “nothing will change”. They emphasize that “if the sea is not stopped outside the small bay with a breakwater, it will continue to enter with force and will prevent embarkation and disembarkation maneuvers”, as has always happened in this northern area.
