maritime

Grupo F. harbor project under fire

Fishermen complain that Grupo F.’s harbor project has reduced water levels in the area, affecting fishing.

ANAM has accused the company of failing to comply with environmental requirements.

LA PRENSA / Levi Cruz

ebbing tide: Increasingly low tides along the Amador Causeway have been attributed to Grupo F.’s land reclamation work in the area. Low tides can delay fishermen up to six hours in unloading their catch.1137741

Complaints are ringing in from fishermen of the El Chorrillo Co-op regarding the construction of breakwaters and landfill in Amador by Group F. International, whose president and legal representative is Jean Figali.

The filling has apparently caused environmental contamination, lower tide levels, and sediment accumulation in the navigation area used by the fishermen. These less than ideal conditions are affecting both the environment and fishermen themselves. If a boat comes back loaded with fish in the morning and the tide is low, fishermen are forced to wait until the afternoon (which, at times, translates into six hours) in order to be able to navigate their vessels to shore. Moreover, several of their boats have been directly affected, in some cases with motor propellers banging up against the rock below the sediment.

Co-op representative Rafael Garces questions whether Group F has complied with the specifications detailed in the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) that was approved. Garces further opined that ANAM, the country’s main environmental agency, should take action on the issue.

The ANAM’s quality control department responded that they are currently investigating an alleged breach of the EIA, with a representative stating that "the entity [Grupo F] did not, in fact, build the landfill in accordance with the proposed function or in compliance with the proposed design that was approved."

According to ANAM records, Grupo F is not current with its required paperwork or mitigation, monitoring, and compensation measures. Since the project’s approval on October 31, 2003, Grupo F has only submitted two of the five semi-annual reports that are required as part of the approved agreement.

In the absence of said reports, ANAM's legal department is unable to reach a conclusive decision on the matter. Nevertheless, until and unless the required documents turn up and prove otherwise, it is assumed that Grupo F's landfill construction is, in fact, affecting the environment.