VALVERDE (EL HIERRO), 30 Aug. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Third Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, remarked this Friday that it is “beneficial” for El Hierro to have the ‘Mar de las Calmas’ declared a marine national park – the initial proposal received approval at the end of July and is now awaiting final endorsement via legislation in Congress.
After her visit to the area, she acknowledged that there is “anxiety” among the island’s residents regarding this designation and has consequently opened the possibility of hosting discussions with all concerned parties to consider their proposals related to usage and management of the prospective park.
The minister emphasised that the ‘Sea of Calm’ is a “unique” maritime area, featuring subtropical ecosystems that represent one of the “great treasures” of the island and that it is not yet classified within the national parks network, despite being included in the master plan.
She indicated that the proposal still has a “substantial amount of procedures ahead” and must also “involve local stakeholders” and various administrations, particularly the fishing sector, whose traditional practices “have been essential for conserving and maintaining the ecosystem,” with customary uses that are “perfectly compatible with the sea.”
Furthermore, she recognised that there are “other stakeholders” such as diving and recreational fishing that also “need to find their place,” with “restrictions” but which can remain as close to the coastline as possible, similar to diving practices that must be “compatible” with the ‘Sea of Calm.’
In this context, she stated that it has been “extremely informative” to understand the local situation and engage with fishermen’s associations, who have urged them to “act responsibly” and collaborate with the Ministry “to ensure successful outcomes.”
Ribera stressed that efforts have been ongoing for a decade to declare the national marine park and called for a “lesson” to be learnt from the challenges associated with the design and implementation of the Gorona del Viento hydro-wind power facility, which has led to a sense of pride among the residents of El Hierro in their renewable energy production.
“There are already protected marine areas, and what deserves special conservation is quite clearly defined,” she commented.
COMPATIBLE WITH FISHING
However, she believes that the affected individuals “wish to feel trust, recognition, respect, and compatibility with the traditional practices that the fishermen’s guilds have diligently maintained for many years, which have ensured this area remains in such excellent conservation condition,” alongside their “involvement” in decision-making processes.
She has therefore stated that they are “absolutely justified” in their concerns, regardless of whether the park is officially established through legislation in the Congress of Deputies, and underscored that the Ministry will pursue this initiative “listening” and collaborating with all relevant administrations.
In this respect, she noted that the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, had conveyed a similar sentiment to her.
“We have engaged with all stakeholders and will continue to do so. The Ministry has scheduled a series of constructive meetings with local stakeholders, as has been done throughout this period, and we are obviously attentive to any issues that arise,” she stated.
The ‘Sea of Calm’, covering an area of over 24,000 hectares, is regarded as having significant natural value, according to scientific research conducted over the last decade.
Among the notable features present in the region, its biodiversity is particularly striking, due to the proximity of deep-water species to the El Hierro coastline, alongside tropical and subtropical species that are less represented across the rest of the Canary Islands.
Indeed, its waters are home to one of the most significant communities of beaked whales, deep-sea cetaceans, globally.
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