In a few weeks, the draft of the SCI (Place of Community Importance) will be released to the public, with which it is intended to regulate a series of uses of the maritime space to protect the ecosystem that comprises the coastline from Xàbia to Calpe.
The approval of the LIC project would imply the restriction of several nautical activities, therefore, the Marina Nou Fontana marinas, Marina de Denia and Marina El Portet have come together to carry out a study and check the effects caused by recreational boating on the seabed of the Marina Alta.
After the elaboration of the study carried out by the consultant Oceansnell and coordinated by the University of Alicante, the conclusion is clear, "The recreational nautical of the Marina Alta is compatible with the conservation of oceanic posidonia", said the environmental consultant's biologist, Vicente Tasso.
According to the report of Compatibility of the current nautical activity with the natural assets of the marine space of the LIC Marina Alta in which current images of the seabed of Xàbia, Benitatxell and Teulada-Moraira are shown, in this area there is absence of garreo or borneo marks in the area.
The studio
The study has been based on different points such as: the frequency of recreational vessels in the area of the SCI, the characteristics of the vessels that anchor, the bionomic cartography and the anchorage of vessels on oceanic posidonia meadows.
Also, three main stretches of the coast were located where more anchored being: Cala Blanca - Cala Sardinera, Cala El Pom - Cap Negre and the stretch of coast of Playa granadella - Discoverer Island, where a maximum of 155 vessels anchored on Sunday 6 August 2017 were registered.
The small length of the boats that anchor in this area of the east coast is another point to highlight that shows the null impact in the posidonia. And it is that, the report indicates that the 71% of the boats are of lengths less than the 10 meters, and the 91%, of less than 13 meters.
In addition, it has been verified and according to the report of the study, "In the several days that the checks have been carried out, practically 100% of the anchored boats were moored to the buoys installed by the Town hall", the consultants affirmed.
These data coincide with the preliminary data presented to different groups during this year of the study Xàbia Project, carried out by the Oceanogràfic of Valencia, in which it is ensured that the state of conservation of the LIC grasslands is good and very good.
Marina Alta vs Formentera
The consultant who has made this compatibility study, also carried out the study of the anchorages in Formentera and the comparison with the Marina Alta "Nothing has to do, it is not comparable"said Tasso. "In Formentera the medium and large lengths predominate, the density of the anchorage of boats is very high, there is a presence of considerable extensions of death kills and presence of large marks of garreo and borneo. The nautical activity is very different, in Formentera they anchor of night, while in the Marina Alta this case is not contemplated "added Vicente. Considerations that have not been detected in the Marina Alta LIC area and, therefore, "We have documented evidence that confirms the compatibility of nautical activity with the conservation of posidonia", said Ricardo Burriel, Commercial Director and Assistant Manager of Nou Fontana.
Hahaha. But what can you expect from a report organized by the nautical ones? It's the same as asking the tobacco companies for a report on the damage caused by tobacco. As they do not cause damage the boats anchored with anchors are of the length that they are. Logically they have not looked where they have to look since there are many areas damaged by the garreo and hoisted anchors in several areas of Jávea. This does not mean that the recreational nautical with the poseidonia is not compatible, but unquestionably if it is anchored with anchor in the poseidonia it is damaged.