The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, and the councillor Narvay Quintero visited the port of Punta del Hidalgo following the signing of an agreement that grants the use of the facilities to the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Consolation. The agreement resolves an administrative situation that had persisted for years.
The Brotherhood of Our Lady of Consolation can now directly manage the port of Punta del Hidalgo, in the municipality of La Laguna. The President of the Canary Government, Fernando Clavijo, and the Councillor for Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing and Food Sovereignty, Narvay Quintero, visited the port facilities this Wednesday to announce the entry into force of the cooperation agreement signed between the Ministry and the fishing entity.
The agreement, which has an initial validity of four years extendable for another four, allows the brotherhood to use the space for the development of fishing activities. Among the authorised uses are the first marketing of catches, storage of equipment, maintenance of fishing gear, and other auxiliary services related to artisanal fishing.
During the visit, Clavijo explained that the agreement resolves an administrative tangle that had kept the facilities blocked. “We reinforce the legal security of the brotherhood's facilities and respond to a historical demand from the fishing professionals in the municipality,” he stated. The president emphasised that collaboration between administrations has been key to unlocking a situation that jeopardised the present and future of the sector.
The problem lay in the uncertainty about which administration was competent to grant the sectoral authorisation. The location of the port, on rustic land under coastal protection and affected by the servitude of protection of the public maritime-terrestrial domain, raised doubts about its affiliation to Canary Ports. To resolve this, the Canary Executive promoted coordination between the La Laguna City Council, the Tenerife Cabildo, the regional Government, and the General State Administration.
Finally, it was agreed that the General Directorate of Fisheries would be responsible for completing the processing. This management centre submitted the documentation required by the La Laguna City Council, which considered the requirements met and concluded the existing contentious-administrative procedure. This paved the way for the transfer of the use of the facilities to the brotherhood.
The head of the brotherhood, David Lorenzo, positively assessed the agreement. “This investment was necessary to increase the number of fishing days and to carry out the activity with greater safety and comfort,” he noted. Lorenzo was accompanied by the deputy head, Adrián Ramos, and other members of the board, as well as local fishermen.
Councillor Narvay Quintero highlighted that the agreement represents a decisive step for the brotherhood to develop its activities with stability. “They will directly manage an essential space for the daily work of fishermen,” he indicated. During the visit, Quintero also presented the Harbour Management Project, an instrument designed to improve management and optimise the use of port facilities, regulate the presence of recreational vessels, and create a new revenue stream for the brotherhood.
The councillor praised the work of the involved administrations to resolve a complex administrative situation through dialogue. “Our goal has been to provide a response with full legal guarantees to the brotherhood. Institutional coordination has allowed us to clarify competencies, complete the processing, and reach a consensual solution that protects the general interest and guarantees the continuity of fishing activities,” he explained.
Under the agreement, the Ministry will maintain oversight and inspection functions of the facilities, while the brotherhood will take on their conservation and maintenance, as well as the ordinary management of the ceded space. The agreement also includes the possibility of allocating part of the space to the first marketing of catches, storage and preservation of tools and equipment, maintenance and repair of fishing gear, management of supply rooms, and other auxiliary services.
Clavijo highlighted the role of brotherhoods as essential organisations for the representation, support, and provision of services to fishing professionals. He emphasised the socioeconomic and cultural importance of an activity closely linked to the identity of the Canary Islands, which generates employment, contributes to the supply of local products, and supports the maintenance and development of numerous coastal towns in the Archipelago.
“The regional Executive is at the service of the sector and its workers and maintains its commitment to improving the infrastructures that make the development of this activity and the continuity of artisanal fishing in the islands possible,” affirmed the president. For the fishermen of Punta del Hidalgo, the agreement represents a relief after years of uncertainty. They can now focus on their daily work with the assurance of having compliant facilities.
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