The Minister of Smart Governance and Regional Development Raimonds Čudars promises to revise the proposed nature conservation plan for marine protected areas, said the minister's communication advisor Sabīne Spurke to the LETA agency.
Considering the opinions expressed by the involved parties, including fishermen and representatives of water sports, regarding the proposals included in the nature conservation plan for protected marine areas and the rules for their protection and use, the public discussion of the plan has been suspended.
As a result, the proposals of the current nature conservation plan will not receive further advancement, and work on the development of the plan will continue.
As reported to the LETA agency by the Limbaži District Municipality, the public discussion of the nature conservation plan held in Salacgrīva was attended by the leadership of the Limbaži District Municipality, local residents, coastal fishermen, and other interested parties. Many came to express their concerns about how the proposed restrictions could affect their daily activities and lives.
Fisherman Jānis Krūmiņš from Kuivži emphasized that the new plan threatens the destruction of coastal fishing. "If the marine conservation plan is adopted, it will cause significant harm to all fishermen because all the most active fishing spots are located within these reserves, and we will basically no longer be able to fish," he explained, adding that if the restrictions come into effect, it will be necessary to transport all boats and large fishing gear much further from their usual locations, which he believes is impractical.
Representatives of the fishing community noted that such a plan poses a threat to the long-standing traditions of the local community. For many, the craft of fishing is passed down from generation to generation, and new protected areas mean not only a loss of income for many residents but also the disappearance of the culture and way of life of the region.
The society "Mazjūras zvejnieki" has called for help in preserving people's access to the sea and Latvia's national wealth - coastal fishing. Until December 18, it invites people to send letters to the Nature Conservation Agency (NCA) with objections to the inclusion of any prohibited zones for coastal fishing in the future marine conservation plan, as well as restrictions on water recreation for vessels, including motorized and wind-driven boats.
The society explains that in cooperation with the Institute of Hydroecology and the BIOR Institute, the NCA plans to establish a seasonal reserve along most of the coast from March 15 to August 31, prohibiting any activities, including coastal fishing, sailing, wakeboarding, and any similar activities on the water. The main reason for the ban is said to be the large number of nesting birds during this period. "How are fishermen, sailors, and skiers harming them? There is no clear answer. This has not been studied. But supposedly, birds need to be protected because their numbers are increasing here due to climate change, and they must not be disturbed," the society notes in its appeal.
The society "Mazjūras zvejnieki" invites all interested parties to participate in the next public discussion of the future nature conservation plan, which will take place on December 16 at 13:00 in the Kolka Liv House.
As reported, a public discussion of the nature conservation plan for protected marine areas took place at the NCA office in Salacgrīva in early December.
As stated by the project manager of the NCA "Life Reef" Ilze Sabule to the LETA agency, the task of the nature conservation plan is to reconcile the interests of nature conservation and economic activities with the preservation of natural values and consideration of opportunities for unobstructed development.
