Lola García secures State commitment to restore maritime links with mainland Spain

Fuerteventura Island Council has secured a commitment to restore maritime links between Fuerteventura and mainland Spain. The calls were led by Island Council president Lola García and backed by the island’s town councils and the Fuerteventura Chamber of Commerce in a united front.

On Friday 4 September, Lola García received notification from the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine, which said it was working to expedite the tender process for managing the maritime route of public interest. The future tender will include a call at Fuerteventura.

Lola García highlighted the work carried out by Fuerteventura’s administrations to secure a fair, necessary and strategic demand for the island’s present and future.

Removing the connection with the island increases maritime transport costs by around 70–78%. “In an island and peripheral economy such as Fuerteventura’s, these additional costs are borne directly by the end consumer or by small and medium-sized businesses, putting Fuerteventura at a clear disadvantage,” the Island Council president said. “We therefore hope that the call at Fuerteventura will indeed be included as a Public Service Obligation (PSO), as we have requested given its importance, and that the tender process will be expedited.”

Fuerteventura Island Council, through letters sent to the Ministry by its president, and Puerto del Rosario Town Council both reiterated their concern through various channels over the loss of the maritime connection. Other institutions on Fuerteventura joined the call, defending a route that is essential to the island.