Regional Government to carry out more than ten interventions in coast areas and fishing ports of Pico Island
The Regional Secretary for Sea, Science and Technology stated today that 11 interventions have been or are under way in coastal areas and fishing ports of Pico Island as a result from the damage caused by Hurricane Lorenzo.
Gui Menezes stressed that some are "quite complex and major interventions," adding that they correspond to an overall investment of five million Euros.
According to him, the project to repair the Calhau Fishing Port, parish of Candelária, is currently being completed, an investment of about 450 thousand Euros, and “the respective tender will be launched during this month."
Regarding the works for the protection of the jetty of Calheta do Nesquim Fishing Port, the Regional Secretary stated that the procedure launched in July was deserted, and for that reason, a new procedure will be launched for a base price of 100 thousand Euros.
The Regional Secretary visited the Santa Cruz das Ribeiras Fishing Port, municipality of Lajes do Pico, where technical water and electricity networks were installed to supply the fishing vessels operating there on a regular or seasonal basis.
Gui Menezes stressed that the Government will carry out "an intervention in this fishing port representing an estimated investment of more than three million Euros, as part of the works to recover the damage caused by Hurricane Lorenzo.”
According to the government official, the project for the consolidation works of that fishing port is currently being drawn up. It includes the rehabilitation of the existing external protection with the reinforcement of the breakwater extrados and rooting.
There are also planned works to upgrade the inner marginal retention of the port with the aim of improving its operating conditions.
Asked by journalists about the constraints caused by Hurricane Lorenzo to Pico fishers, the Regional Secretary mentioned the "particular case" of São João Fishing Port, which has “a higher number of fishers [compared to other fishing ports on that island].”
"There was damage to the workshop area and the fishing gear houses and the crane was also lost," the government official said, adding that the port's operating conditions "have been severely compromised, but fortunately they will be restored soon" with the installation of a new crane.
Currently, there are ongoing works or about to be launched in Pocinho, Lajido Road (Criação Velha), Calhau Port, Ana Clara area (Candelária), Porto Novo Road (São Mateus) and Baixas Port (São Caetano), which also include the interventions to repair the support infrastructures of São João Fishing Port.
In turn, the works in São Mateus and São Caetano fishing have been completed as well as the coastal protection works of São João Brotherhood.