Cabrera unveils a new plan to protect the Mediterranean’s largest marine area

The new PRUG, to be approved by decree, establishes full protection over a marine area of 510 km².

Yesterday, Monday 29th of June, the Board of Trustees of the Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park held its regular session, attended by the Regional Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment, Joan Simonet, and the Director General for the Natural Environment and Forest Management, Anna Torres.

During the meeting, the draft decree for the new Master Plan for Use and Management (PRUG) was presented. The document incorporates the contributions received during the public-participation process and will serve as the fundamental instrument for defining the planning, conservation, uses and management of the National Park in the coming years. The new PRUG establishes a strict-protection regime over a marine area of 510 km², making it the largest protected area in the entire Mediterranean and doubling the areas currently subject to the highest level of protection across this marine basin.

The new PRUG received the support of all members of the Board of Trustees, including local authorities, conservation organisations and scientific bodies, with the exception of the representatives of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who voted against it.

“We regret this position and hope that it will not hinder the final approval of the PRUG by the National Parks Network Council,” Simonet stated.

According to the Regional Minister, “the new PRUG is a clear example that the legal status of the planning instrument for a natural area does not determine its level of protection. Although the National Park was declared by law, its planning and management instrument is approved by decree of the Balearic Government, which in this case significantly increases the protection of its natural values.”

Far from reducing protection, Director General Anna Torres explained that “the new PRUG strengthens the conservation of the main protected marine area in the Balearic Islands and adapts its management to the expansion of the Park approved in 2019, which multiplied its surface area to more than 90,800 hectares, almost 99% of which are marine.”

The main innovation in the document is the creation of an extensive network of strict marine reserves, establishing the highest level of protection within the National Park. In these areas, only authorised management, conservation or research activities will be permitted, while navigation, anchoring, diving and any type of use of natural resources will be prohibited. “This is the most significant strengthening of marine protection since the National Park was declared,” Torres stressed.

In addition, the new PRUG includes far more precise zoning of the marine area, with the designation of ecological-regeneration zones; specific protection measures for the seabed and other vulnerable habitats; stricter regulation of navigation, anchoring and diving; enhanced maritime surveillance; and the inclusion of adaptive-management criteria based on scientific knowledge, ecological monitoring and adaptation to the effects of climate change.

In this way, the Balearic Government is providing the National Park with an updated management framework that raises the level of protection for its natural heritage and consolidates this area as one of the leading examples of marine conservation in the Mediterranean.

It should be noted that the final PRUG text is the outcome of a public-information process that attracted broad participation. Particular priority was given to incorporating proposals aimed at improving conservation and monitoring of the area. Thanks to these contributions, the final document has improved its structure and internal consistency in order to optimize the management and protection of the National Park.

Having completed this stage, the draft now continues through the approval process with its submission to the National Parks Network Council. It will subsequently be presented to the Balearic Islands Government Council for final approval.

During the session, the National Park Director, Maria Valens, presented a report structured around three areas: the status of projects currently under way, the main developments introduced this year, and future challenges in further strengthening conservation. Regarding Park management, Valens also referred to the challenges arising from the increased arrival of small migrant boats.

With regard to activities in the National Park funded by European resources under Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), it was reported that an extension until 31st of July 2026 has been granted to complete the projects currently under way. These include the refurbishment of Park buildings, with the former information office and the new infirmary now almost complete.

The status of environmental-improvement initiatives for the wastewater collection and treatment system was also detailed. New treatment plants using TPO technology have already been installed both in the harbour area and at the campsite, and are currently being adjusted and commissioned. This project will make it possible to achieve the goal of zero wastewater discharges into the sea through the infiltration of treated water into the ground.

Work is also progressing to improve rainwater collection, including the installation of new pipelines and storage tanks, as well as the upgrading of the road leading to the Guardia Civil facilities. Restoration work on the harbour pier is likewise in its final phase and is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Among the main developments for 2026 is an improved visitor offer within the Park, with the introduction of two new routes: the Ses Vinyes path, which will be available as a guided tour, and the route “From the harbour to Sa Platgeta, in the shade of pines and junipers,” which visitors will be able to follow independently. These routes will allow visitors to discover new areas of environmental and heritage interest, as well as enjoy new views over the harbour bay and Santa Maria.

In the field of conservation, the new Cabrera Observatory was also unveiled: a digital platform integrating environmental information from different bodies and monitoring projects. The portal provides real-time meteorological, oceanographic and environmental data, as well as live cameras, forestry information, maps and other resources of scientific and educational interest.

Another major initiative during the first half of the year has been the project to clean the National Park’s seabed. The work began with an initial survey phase using a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), which made it possible to identify the main locations where waste was present. This was followed by twenty removal operations, during which a sunken fishing vessel and a small migrant boat were recovered, along with remains of migrant boats and abandoned fishing gear.

In total, 5.25 tonnes of waste have been removed from the seabed of the National Park.

Looking ahead, the challenges identified include bringing all the new infrastructure currently under construction into operation, reopening the Cabrera refuge after three years of closure, and beginning construction of the future research station on Cabrera Island. Other priority objectives include renovating the Visitor Centre facilities and continuing to promote sustainability and conservation initiatives.

Finally, the meeting also presented the 2025 Activity Report, which outlines conservation, research, public-use and surveillance activities, as well as meetings of the Board of Trustees, Scientific Conferences and other institutional events. The report also provides an update on the new projects currently under way.