SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 29 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The president of the Cabildo of El Hierro, Alpidio Armas, has asked for the “maximum unity and support” for the creation of the National Marine Park of the Island, but he wanted to make it clear that the party he represents has not even been taken into consideration and , much less, to the Cabildo.
Alpidio Armas has reiterated that no agreement has yet been adopted on this initiative, which would have “great importance” for the Island, although he was in favor of the creation of this park because “it would culminate all the work and progress made by El Hierro, for all its political forces, so that the Island is today an international benchmark in sustainability”.
The president of El Hierro affirmed that what he has done so far is to work directly with the Autonomous Organism for National Parks and the Ministry itself, transferring to them the requirements and demands of the most affected groups on the Island with their possible creation so that the final project that presented in El Hierro has a better chance of being approved, because “previously, the entities that promote it only worked from Madrid, unilaterally, which led to a lack of support on the Island”.
“What has been wanted is to ensure that at least 90% of all our demands, which were previously made clear, are already included in the document that is transferred to the citizens of El Hierro and that we only have now to polish and try to achieve maximum unanimity and support for a project that will undoubtedly have a great socioeconomic impact on this island and that, in my opinion, we should not let this historic opportunity pass by,” he said.
Alpidio Armas lamented that certain political parties and representatives of groups, for various reasons, have not taken advantage of the opportunity to learn about the functioning and insular repercussions of the Maritime-Terrestrial Park of the Cabrera Archipelago, recently visited by a delegation from the island of El Iron headed by its president.
“We have had the opportunity to have two days of work with the director and technicians of the Parks, members of the Balearic Government and a guided tour of the Park that has allowed us to consult and have more elements at the time of later taking into account this project,” he explained.
Thus, the fishermen of El Hierro were able to fish together with the fishermen of Cabrera to share experiences regarding capture techniques and verify the profitability of the product derived from its status as a Marine Park. The same exchange took place between the representatives of the El Hierro and Majorcan diving clubs.
Armas recalled that this new initiative coincides with the proposals for which El Hierro has fought in recent decades and recalled that there has always been consensus and institutional support among all political forces when it comes to first supporting the Sustainable Development Plan, the UNESCO quality seals for the Biosphere Reserve and World Geopark and Gorona del Viento as an emblem of the use of clean energy.
“I hope and wish that we all achieve this same unity when it comes to assessing whether it is good for El Hierro to have this National Park, with the people of El Hierro finally deciding on it,” he added.
One of the main obstacles that the development has initially presented has been the activity of recreational fishing, which will be carried out under the same conditions as the current ones and in the traditional permitted areas, always in accordance with the applicable regulations that will be governed by the laws on fishing matters of the Autonomous Community.
The El Hierro National Marine Park, if it is consolidated, will entail different direct and indirect investments. It will contemplate an annual allocation for its maintenance quantified between 6 and 10 million, an amount that will vary according to the investments prior to its consolidation. Regarding repercussions on employment, it is estimated that some 20 jobs can be created between scientists, technicians and auxiliary personnel. In addition, it will entail the construction of a visitor center and the acquisition of boats and vehicles.
