The CDU was in Praia Formosa yesterday as part of their electoral campaign. During their visit, members of the party warned of the threats that “touristification brings to the management of the coast and the ecological risks to coastal waters.”
“According to the most recent official data, Portugal has the third-largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the European Union, right after France and Denmark. The Portuguese EEZ comprises 3 subareas: Mainland subarea, the Azores subarea, and the Madeira subarea. If the proposal presented to the UN in 2019 for the extension of the continental shelf is approved, Portugal will have an area of 4 million km2, with the sea area being 40 times larger than the land area. This extension will allow greater and better exploration of renewable energies (waves and winds), minerals, and hydrocarbons,” advised Ana Paula Almeida.
Furthermore, she stressed the sea is a fundamental asset for the Portuguese economy. According to INE data, from 2018, the economy of the sea already represents 5.1% of GDP, 5% of national exports, and about 4% of employment. The activities associated with it, as a whole, performed above the national average, with emphasis on the sectors of tourism (coastal), fishing, the fish industry, and logistics. The challenge that arises today is the compatibility of economic activities with climate change and its impact on marine and coastal ecosystems and their resources, and the need to ensure the sustainability of these same ecosystems,” she added.
Since the Autonomous Region of Madeira is an Outermost Region with a vast maritime space, which enables the development of certain economic activities, namely tourism, Ana Paula Almeida stressed that “the good natural conditions are a great attraction for maritime-tourism activities and the practice of all water sports throughout the year. However, it is urgent to ensure the sustainability and quality of the sea.”
“In 2014, the PEV denounced that the Funchal Wastewater Treatment Plant was not working efficiently, and in fact, was proving detrimental to the quality of the environment and, in turn, to the coast; as well as for the quality of the water that is necessary not only in terms of public health, but also in terms of preserving the marine environment and marine biodiversity. After 11 years, the problem has not yet been fully resolved. As seen by the frequent discharges that take place in the sea of Funchal and that even interdict the beaches. Another worrying situation is the pressure exerted by excessive construction that has been degrading the coast, damaging maritime biodiversity, and making it difficult for citizens to access the sea,” she warned.
As the management, preservation, and exploitation of the sea is a responsibility of the State, the CDU undertakes to promote the debate on these issues in the Assembly of the Republic. The Region and its population can only gain from a greater balance and a more sustainable way of exploring the ocean, which will allow them to better enjoy the sea and the activities it provides. It will also be good for tourism, which is the main source of income in the Region, but also one of the main sectors of pressure on nature and the coast.
“A sea with more quality, associated with more controlled tourism, will attract more responsible tourists who are aware of the necessary sustainability,” concluded Ana Paula Almeida.
Samantha Ganon
info at madeira-weekly.com
