The Balearic Government will limit navigation speed around Isla del Aire

The new regulation, currently in the preliminary consultation phase, aims to reduce acoustic pressure on marine wildlife, ensure sustainable growth in diving activity and strengthen participation in the management of marine reserves.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, through the Directorate General for Fisheries, has opened a preliminary consultation process for the drafting of an Order to regulate vessel speed within the Marine Reserve of Isla del Aire, organize collective scuba diving activities in Menorca’s marine reserves, and modify the composition of the monitoring commission for these protected areas.

The initiative responds to the need to strengthen the protection of marine biodiversity in areas of high ecological value that are experiencing increasing navigation pressure. Human-generated underwater noise has harmful effects on marine fauna, and in areas with intense maritime traffic, such as the waters around Isla del Aire, this impact is directly linked to vessel speed. Applying the precautionary principle, the future regulation proposes setting a maximum speed limit within the reserve to minimize impacts on marine habitats and contribute to the recovery and conservation of fishery resources.

The Director General for Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau, highlighted that “marine reserves are one of the most effective tools we have for recovering fish populations and protecting marine habitats, but their success also requires properly managing the activities that take place within them.” In this regard, he emphasized that “reducing speed around Isla del Aire is a proportionate measure based on technical criteria that will help decrease underwater noise and strengthen the environmental quality of the reserve.”

Regarding scuba diving, it is a regulated activity subject to specific authorization that has experienced significant growth in Menorca. In 2024, authorized diving centers carried out 16,121 dives in the island’s marine reserves, demonstrating the increasing attractiveness of these areas thanks to the recovery of biodiversity. In light of this growth, the Ministry considers it necessary to establish a more precise framework for collective diving to ensure that its development remains compatible with the conservation of marine resources and long-term sustainability.

Grau emphasized that “we want to continue making conservation compatible with the economic activity linked to diving, but without allowing uncontrolled growth that could jeopardize the very values that make these reserves attractive.” He added that “we are working together with the sector to define a stable framework, with possible measures such as setting a maximum number of authorizations or zoning the activity, always based on sustainability criteria.”

The future Order will also modify the composition of the Monitoring Commission of the Northern Menorca Marine Reserve and the Isla del Aire Marine Reserve by incorporating a representative from the Menorca Preservation Fund, an organization with a well-established track record in marine conservation on the island. This addition will strengthen the participatory nature of the body and promote shared governance of Menorca’s marine reserves.

With the opening of this preliminary consultation, the Balearic Government is providing citizens, the fishing sector, diving centers and environmental organizations with the necessary information to submit contributions before the regulatory text is drafted. The aim is to consolidate the Balearic Islands’ marine reserve model as a benchmark in fisheries management and marine conservation, ensuring a balance between environmental protection, economic activity and well-organized public use.