The Xunta has given the green light to four new agreements with different guilds in order to undertake recovery and improvement work on shellfish beds after the mortality caused by the storms recorded at the beginning of the year.
As agreed this Monday by the Consello de la Xunta, these new pacts with the guilds of A Illa de Arousa, Vilaboa, Arcade and the Galician Cooperative Society Ría de Arosa (Abanqueiro) involve the mobilization of a global budget of 2,517,120.06 euros, co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (Fempa).
The purpose of these agreements is the regeneration of shellfish beds and coastal ecosystems. Thanks to them, shellfish gatherers will receive economic compensation of up to 700 euros per month --from which they must deduct social security contributions-- for the duration of the halt in extractive activity.
A Illa de Arousa
The Galician Executive details that the agreement with the highest amount is that of the Pontevedra municipality of A Illa de Arousa, which will have 1,357,655.20 euros.
The restoration plan foresees interventions in authorized and free shellfish beds, covering a combined area of 1,400,491 square meters. 153 on-foot shellfish gatherers will participate in these tasks for 12 days a month.
Among the planned measures is the decompaction and oxygenation of the substrate using a rake towed by the guild's tractor, combined with manual work in areas of more difficult access.
The program also includes the removal of macroalgae in human chains and the technical transfer of Japanese clam from O Aguillón and O Mallón to areas such as Riasón-Tarais.
Likewise, the project contemplates the sowing of two million units of carpet clam on O Bao beach, along with other complementary actions.
Galician Cooperative Society Ría de Arosa
In the case of the Galician Cooperative Society Ría de Arosa, an investment of 435,573.33 euros is foreseen for restoration actions, in which an on-foot shellfish gatherer will take part starting in October, over an area of 29,920 square meters between Punta Portomouro and Punta Pedra Rubia.
The plan contemplates the contribution of about 1,000 cubic meters of quarry sand to correct unproductive areas in Punta Fontenla and Punta Pedra Rubia, transported with dump trucks and tractors with shovels.
Among other interventions, predator control will be carried out by setting traps with two boats for their removal, in addition to the use of nets. The seaweed will be extracted afloat with scallop traces and also manually from land.
Plan of the Vilaboa Brotherhood
The project of the Vilaboa Brotherhood will have a budget of 380,946.07 euros and will coordinate the work of 48 shore-based shellfish gatherers from Punta Pereiró to Punta de O Cabalo, over a total of 132 working days.
The technical plan will focus on the sanitation of the substrate with contributions of aggregates in Deilán and on the conditioning of river channels with an excavator in Deilán and Riomaior, in order to clean the drainage of the rivers and avoid obstructions and freshwater floods.
In addition, clam transfers will be carried out from Santo Adrián (Ostral) to Riomaior under protective nets, pre-fattening of seed will be carried out, and four million clam units will be sown.
Plan of the Arcade Brotherhood
The Arcade Fishermen's Brotherhood will have 342,945.46 euros to develop a shellfish restoration plan that will act on 91,585 square meters of the San Simón Cove (Rede Natura 2000) and will involve the 47 active shellfish gatherers.
Among the planned actions are the monitoring of the exotic species "Tritia neritea" and the manual removal of waste in 64,085 square meters. The program also includes the experimental pre-fattening of cockles, the monitoring of sowings of 805,555 juveniles, and the carrying out of strategic visual surveillance.
Agreement with the Rof Codina Foundation
At another point on the agenda, at the weekly meeting of the Galician Executive, the signing of a collaboration agreement between the Consellería do Mar and the Rof Codina Foundation was authorized.
The objective is to promote the scientific technical project "Study of the effect of normal mercury levels in the diet and its relationship with the immune response," an initiative that will be developed between 2026 and 2027 and has a total budget of 648,775 euros, financed 50% by both parties.
The study will focus on analyzing mercury exposure associated with the habitual consumption of tuna and its possible relationship with the immune response, as well as the neutralizing effect of selenium, evaluating the real levels of contact in different consumer profiles.