Good news for the Algarve’s fishing ports again has been announced, with Docapesca stating that it plans to invest about €7.6 million in the region between 2019 and 2021.
This spend was stated by the Ministry of the Sea in response to a question from the Portuguese Communist Party.
The investment aims to "respond to the needs of modernisation and rehabilitation of infrastructures and equipment under Docapesca’s management that is used by the fishing industry, but also used in recreational boating sector, maritime-tourism and the river transport services," said the ministry led by Ana Paula Vitorino.
The largest share of the 'proposed' budget, around €1.17 million will be for Sagres, Vila do Bispo.
Then there are two projects in Portimão's fishing port: the rehabilitation of the dock, the road surface, traffic planning and the rehabilitation and correction of the sewage and sanitation system.
In the fishing port of Olhão, two major works are planned: paving and rehabilitation of the road network, pedestrian and traffic planning, rehabilitation of catchment systems, pumping and distribution of salt water and fire hydrant system. Replacing Olhão's crumbling dockside surface has been announced as 'new spending' at least three times since 2014.
In Quarteira, €500,000 will be invested in the total rehabilitation of the lota building, as well as a new dock for unloading and a rearrangement of the fishing port.
In the fishing port of Tavira, Docapesca plans to invest €400,000 in the rehabilitation of the auction area, installing some floating docks and fixing the parking area.
In response to the Communist enquiry, the Ministry of the Sea, admitted that in 2016 and 2017, Docapesca invested only about €2.8 million in the Algarve, with €488,000 only being spent in 2018.
As for the investments planned for 2018, €2.9 million was expected to be spent on the region’s ports to improve safety, to modernise the fish auction areas and fix the areas used by tourists and recreational sailors.
The Ministry has a habit of categorising long-overdue maintenance spending as an 'investment,' but then it is run by the Minister for Galp for whom truth and transparency are but concepts.
