The Scoglitti fish market inaugurated one year ago nIt hasn’t come into operation yet. Fishermen, who have been waiting for it for a long time, cannot yet use it.
The project for a new overall arrangement of the “small port”, used by the so-called “small-scale fishing” operators, was prepared by the Moscato council, in office until 2018. It was recently completed and inaugurated last year, but has not yet entered into operation. It provided for new docking methods for small boats and above all an equipped area set up for the sale of fish immediately after the arrival of the fishermen.
The small port used by the so-called “varcuzze” and for the sale of fish
In Scoglitti, in fact, it is tradition that the fish is sold on site by the fishermen themselves immediately after docking and for this a small bay adjacent to the large port of Scoglitti is used. It is the fish of the so-called “varcuzze”, a tradition for the life and history of the small seaside village.
For the new marina to become operational, however, the piers that the current administration purchased in Riposto are missing, where they have been decommissioned and which will have to be adapted to the Scoglitti marina. Meanwhile, since the inauguration days, vandals and thieves have damaged the structure. The barrel of the pedal taps that were installed in the area intended for selling fish is missing. But the area in front of the port is also covered in sand and landing for boats is difficult. Councilor Pippo Scuderi asks the reasons for the delay. Why, one year after the inauguration, the port is still not functioning. Scuderi states that the company that carried out the work on the market left debris which raised the seabed making docking more difficult.
So what will be the timescales for the new marina area to finally come into operation? Why was a structure inaugurated that, in fact, has never been used?
Salvatore Avola: “The dredging of the marina will begin next week”
According to councilor Salvatore Avola, delegate for the district, the time should be short. The municipality has already assigned the dredging works of the port to a company from Trapani, which was awarded the works. The dredger, however, will not take away the sand, but will move it further offshore, leaving it within the port area. The dredger has already arrived at the port and work is expected to begin next week. They should be completed in about twenty days.
Longer times, however, for the arrangement of the piers purchased in Riposto. It deals with fingers, i.e. floating docks, which will have to be adapted for the Scoglitti marina. Then – says Avola – you will have to have the authorizations from the Maritime State Property Office for the installation. When everything is ready, fishermen will finally be able to use a fully functional area.
