Four entities submit comments on the Professional Fisheries Management Plan in Pollença and Alcúdia

The four organizations welcome the regulation of fishing in these protected areas and call for greater participation from marine conservation groups to make co-management a reality.

Among other issues, the organizations request more data on fishing effort and the status of species and habitats, so that management decisions and measures can be based on scientific evidence.

The marine conservation organizations Arrels Marines, Fundación Marilles, GOB-Mallorca, and Shark Med have worked together to submit comments on the draft decree of the Management Plan for professional fishing in the internal waters of the bays of Pollença and Alcúdia.

The draft decree was open for public consultation, and the deadline for submitting comments ended on September 17th. Each organization submitted its proposals and amendments following several joint working meetings and consultations with experts in the field.

All organizations expressed their appreciation for the willingness of the Directorate General of Fisheries and the fishing sector in developing this plan, while emphasizing that the submitted comments aim to improve fisheries management, marine resource conservation, and co-management among all stakeholders.

The four organizations agreed on several key points and lines of argument:

• They requested that the smooth-hound shark (musola) not be removed from the list of protected species in the marine reserves, both based on scientific recommendations and because this proposal exceeds the decree’s objective, which is focused on fisheries management in the Pollença and Alcúdia bays.
  
   
• They argued that the plan should not modify the validity period of spearfishing licenses from one to three years, a measure considered inappropriate.
  
   
• Regarding the potential authorization of trawling in the area known as Es Mollets, organizations such as GOB request that this activity not be permitted, while others call for additional scientific data on the presence of vulnerable habitats, fishing effort, and vessel monitoring before allowing such activity.
  
   
• More research is requested, especially regarding ecologically valuable species like gorgonians.

One of the fundamental points for fisheries management in the Pollença and Alcúdia bays is the role of the Co-Management Commission. The organizations argue that the plan should have been developed from the start with a participatory commission that also included representation from conservation groups. There are sufficient examples demonstrating that productive collaboration is possible between conservation entities, the fishing sector, and the Administration.

The Co-Management Commission should not be merely advisory but should have greater authority to ensure true shared management. The organizations therefore requested a redefinition of the functions and composition of the Commission.

In summary, the conservation organizations express their willingness to be involved in fisheries management in the protected LIC (Site of Community Importance) of the Pollença and Alcúdia bays. They call for the promotion and consideration of scientific knowledge regarding marine species and habitats and appreciate the Directorate General of Fisheries and the fishing sector’s openness to advancing marine conservation.