The Director General of Coasts, Ports and Airports, Marc García, chaired the first meeting of the Calpe port round table, which was attended by Calpe Town Council, the Fishermen's Association, the Royal Yacht Club of Calpe, Varadero Marine Spirit and Avramar, the company that manages the fish farm in Calpe.
This is the first meeting between the Director General and the various port stakeholders to hear their concerns and worries. The mayoress of Calpe, Ana Sala, criticised the slow response to the requests submitted by the Town Council to Ports and the fact that the Regional Government returns little of the fees that Calpe pays them every year to the local port. She also took the opportunity to reiterate the Town Council's opposition to the fish farm installed off the coast of the municipality.
Similarly, the head of the fishermen's association, Paco Catalá, and the association's secretary, Santos Pastor, called for greater speed in the processing of files and more support from the regional government in improving the port's infrastructure, ‘one of the most visited in the Valencian Community in both winter and summer’. They cited as an example the importance of improving the fish market, a building that is over 30 years old. The fishermen's association also warned of the lack of space in the port due to the presence of boats from other ports and the increase in tourist activity.
Representatives of Varadero Marine Spirit and Avramar also highlighted the delay in resolving applications and raised the possibility of establishing access control on Avenida del Puerto - from the Royal Yacht Club to Cala del Racó - to avoid traffic jams on this road.
The president of the Royal Yacht Club, Juan Belliure, explained to the director general the sporting successes achieved by the club and the educational work carried out in schools to promote water sports, and informed him of the 50th anniversary of these facilities next year.
The director general invited all those present to submit detailed proposals in relation to the demands made.
He also reported that the Ports budget has increased by 15% this year, in addition to the intention to reinforce the service with 11 people, which he hopes will enable a more responsive service to be provided in relation to requests and enquiries concerning the 35 ports managed in the Valencian Community. He added that the Calpe fish market is the only one in the region built and paid for by the fishermen of Calpe themselves, ‘something that must be taken into account’, and assured that it ‘will be a priority’ for the Regional Government.
In addition to Mayor Ana Sala, the meeting was attended by the Councillor for the Sea and Land, Mariola Mulet, and the Councillor for Territory, Juan Manuel del Pino.