The Mayor of Câmara de Lobos, Celso Bettencourt, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the simultaneous scheduling of the Black Scabbardfish Gastronomic Festival and the Machico Gastronomic Festival. Bettencourt argues that the overlapping dates harm both events and should be avoided in the future.
During the opening of the 34th Black Scabbardfish Gastronomic Festival, the mayor stated that the current calendar "makes no sense at all." He announced his intention to discuss the matter with the Mayor of Machico to find a resolution, adding that if an agreement isn't reached, "we will go to war and fill this festival as it deserves."
Celso Bettencourt contended that an event of the Black Scabbardfish Festival's size and tradition requires a schedule that maximizes visitor numbers without direct competition from similar initiatives. He also paid tribute to the fishermen, emphasizing their crucial role in the festival's existence and Câmara de Lobos' identity, and advocated for the renewal of the fishing fleet to improve working conditions and fish preservation.
