Government and the fishing sector agree on measures to promote sustainable fishing in the Pitiusas

The Government, the fishing sector, the scientific community, and conservation organizations have agreed on new measures to improve the sustainability of fishing in the Pityusic Islands.

The co-management committees of the Artisanal Fishing Management Plan of the Pityusic Islands and the Traditional Seine Fishing Management Plan met this week to analyze the results of the latest season and discuss various proposals to continue moving toward more sustainable fishing practices adapted to the socioeconomic reality of the Balearic Islands.

During the session, data on fishing effort monitoring through electronic positioning devices (“green boxes”) were presented, and several topics were addressed, including the Government’s proposal to establish a minimum catch size for amberjack, the Consell de Formentera’s initiative to modify the island’s marine reserves, and the presentation by GALP Ibiza and Formentera of a protocol for retrieving lost fishing nets.

The Sant Antoni Fishermen’s Guild proposed modifying the fishing season for lobster gear, while the Marilles Foundation announced an upcoming course on best practices for releasing accidentally caught sharks and rays.

Regarding the Traditional Seine Fishing Management Plan — which regulates fisheries such as jonquillera and gerretera — the Directorate-General for Fisheries presented the results of the 2024–2025 campaign, with catches exceeding 27 tons of fish and a total value of more than €290,000. It was also reported that a new extension request has been submitted to the European Commission to maintain the exemption established in Regulation (EC) 1967/2006.

These co-management bodies, made up of public administrations, fishermen’s guilds, scientists, and environmental organizations, are an essential tool for ensuring the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of artisanal fishing in the Balearic Islands.