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Shellfish harvest. (Photo: Cofradia Barallobre)
Precautionary closure of Ferrol estuary due to red tide
SPAIN
Friday, October 19, 2012, 04:20 (GMT + 9)
Xunta de Galicia decided to keep Ferrol estuary closed to shellfish capture due to the presence of lipophilic toxin. The measure prohibits the capture of clams, cockles, razor shells, sword razors and wedge clams in those Galician waters.
Thursday was the second day when the shellfish activity was closed, newspaper La Voz de Galicia reported.
The tests were performed by the Technological Institute for the Control of the Marine Environment (Intecmar).
On Wednesday, the main chief of Ferrol, Rubén Ferrer; and the main chief on duty in Barallobre, Manuel Bañobre, sent a joint request to the head of the Ministry for Rural and Marine Affairs, Rosa Quintana, to have an urgent meeting and address the situation the union is undergoing.
Meanwhile, the main chief of the Fishermen's Association of A Coruña, Manuel Cao, informed that next Monday new samples will be taken for monitoring the red tide evolution.
Chances are that the results will be obtained on Wednesday 24 October, which means that the suspension of shellfish capture would extend for more than a week, with the consequent absence of wages.
The lipophilic biotoxin is not among the three most dangerous one, which usually affect the Galician coast, although its consumption may cause serious intestine condition, generally diarrhea, reported Ideal Gallego.
While maintaining the stoppage of the shellfish capture in A Coruña estuary and in the estuaries of Ares-Betanzos and Ferrol, shellfishermen at the association in A Coruña complained that they can not access unemployment benefits for freelancers granted to workers who can not work for any reason of force majeure, such as the presence of toxins in the water.
They complained that the Social Marine Institute made it clear that in this case the situation can not be regulated by the law, so they will not receive the above mentioned benefits, reported La Opinión.
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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