The issue of fish farms

The issue of fish farms, fish farming or otherwise, has strongly mind all the Boards of our Association. When the Arcadian Village began to be built in 1988 by decision of the Greek government, was the first effort to implement a major program of holiday villages set up in specific places of origin of expatriates.

So we perceive as a summer resort, take the conclusion that the area is obviously intended and given for tourism development.

The intention of the state, if the acknowledged seriousness, consistency and Eunomia, based on ambiguous decision establishing the Arcadian village was a center of Hellenes Abroad, in an area with compatible uses, as obviously they set a region as tourism.

Changing but slowly in the area farms operating room,

which contrasts with the previous design, and ultimately negate threatens to destroy the development of our village. Nowhere all along the coast of North Kynouria there are designated areas of Organization and Aquaculture Development (POAF).

We are witnessing a crime. The farms within the broader concept of agricultural activity, taking as an activity of primary production and therefore subject to proceedings under Article 24 of Law 1650/86. That is, in law required to establish aquaculture development areas prior to any authorization. And this is because the operation involves intensive fish farming operation in the marine environment. The above procedure should be developed by national and regional projects to preserve the potential of greater regional planning and ensure the rational control of land use, according to the bearing strength of each area and to avoid conflicts or adjusted by the pressure development of a region and to protect non-renewable natural resources and sensitive. Toulachston this aim Sustainable Development, touting all the official bodies.

All these certainly were not alone. . . Some high-ranking companies facilitated farming. Some put their signatures and have "empty" epanapafomenoi perhaps the fact that there is no legal framework that defines the use of coastal zones. Some, again, local authorities, advised that positive over the "empty", to ensure the farms and extensions, in return for a small rent or some little jobs, completely disregarding the impact on our village and the fact that essentially break the law. Are not they ever asked us our opinion, since we are directly affected, although they knew of course that the litigation even pulled up and pull to remove illegal fish farms from us. Even the companies themselves aquiculture trying to fool when they pursue "licensing" or extensions, telling lies about the distance of units from the Arcadian or when referring to the total pollution load sources, hiding the existence of other farms in the area or hiding and the entire the Arcadian yet. Have a gimmick "playing" with the coordinates of the units.

When in April 2006 our association asked the Peloponnese region, namely the General Directorate of Regional / Rural Development Division, (ie the state) to give us copies of topographic plans (dependent co-ordinates), according to which presented with "installation permits" in the farms, in sea areas around the Arcadian, their response was that the requested documents are documents private, and include intellectual property law and under such and such, can not issue the documents we request.

Despite all the obstacles to trip and we had some victories, such as the annulment of a decision of the Board North Kynouria for farm expansion. Was significant and our justification by the State Council in 2006.

These victories gave us temporary happiness, because unfortunately remained on paper.

We would like to thank the City Council, Mr Nicholas Driko,

who was the only one who voted against the expansion of aquaculture.

The man was conscious, rightly considered that the Saronic Gulf was aggravated enough to accept and other trucks from aquaculture.

We understand that the farms, they bring a lot of money in Greece and do well because their fish are almost the No. 1 export product of our country ahead of the livestock and olive oil yet (although all that money go to a few pockets). Here we react is installed near residential or tourist areas. So many rocks is our country. . . Let's put them there. So much loss would have the huge profits?

Our village, absorbed hundreds of millions of euros in foreign expatriates of Arcadians, who also have one more question to consider ourselves victimized by our country, when we see fish farms, summarily to sprout like mushrooms and affect the environment in which we promised that we would live in harmony. The area around the village looks like from the cages of fish farms, like a sea mined.

Despite all the righteous to painful and costly court fights us all these years, the farms remain firmly in place.

Just for the story to mention that the majority of the inhabitants of the Arcadian missing many years in Greece, and most afomiosan many good things from the foreign country that hosted abroad. Some of them, is that the laws should apply, judicial decisions implemented and that all are equal before the law. That's a rule of law should help citizens justified when wronged. Especially when wronged by the state itself through some of the officers.

Causes us despair that the unacceptable way in which we deal.

Intensely anxious and our worst nightmare is it illegal farms "legalized" and from one day to another, find the Arcadian permanently tightened by a cordon of aquaculture cages.

The worst is that you entrusted to all generations of our village, no longer able to do anything about it.

With all these and many more that happen eventually Arcadian Village, sometimes overwhelms our disappointment and questions: Ultimately, the many long-suffering the injustice in this country has ever vindicated and allowed to be sacrificed on the altar of profit (the few) ?

Our struggle if anything, is fair. We will push to be justified. We owe, moreover, to our children.