The Government presents draft decree to regulate professional fishing in northern Mallorca

The initiative comes from the fishermen’s guilds of Pollença, Alcúdia, and Cala Rajada, with the goal of ensuring the continuity of the activity, the number of vessels, production, and jobs in the fishing fleet.

Joan Simonet: “Once again, we demonstrate our support for the primary sector, in order to guarantee the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of professional fishing.”

The Conselleria de Agricultura, Pesca y Medio Natural has opened the public hearing and consultation process for the draft Decree establishing a Management Plan for professional fishing in the internal waters of the bays of Pollença and Alcúdia, and amending Decree 10/2019 of February 15th, Decree 41/2015 of May 22nd, and Decree 34/2014 of August 1st. The proposal, promoted by the fishermen’s guilds of Pollença, Alcúdia, and Cala Rajada, grouped under the Federación Balear de Cofradías de Pescadores, aims primarily to safeguard the activity, the number of vessels, production, and jobs of the professional fleet, while reducing the authorized fishing effort.

Councillor Joan Simonet stated: “Once again, we demonstrate our support for the primary sector, in order to ensure the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of professional fishing in all permitted modalities, including regulated trawling, which may only be carried out in the area known as Els Mollets.”

Meanwhile, the Director General of Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau, emphasized that the bays of Pollença and Alcúdia “maintain a markedly seasonal fishing model, with intense activity from February to August and reduced activity during the rest of the year, which has allowed fishery resources in the bays to be maintained.” Grau explained: “This model does not adequately fit within the current regulatory framework. Therefore, a specific regulation for fishing in these grounds is being drafted, which will take into account both the results of scientific monitoring and socio-economic aspects, such as the fact that the boats fish within sight of one another, as well as the opinions of the affected fishermen’s guilds.”

The experience gained from implementing and monitoring fisheries management plans in the Balearic Islands highlights the effectiveness of such regulatory tools in organizing fishing activity, reducing extractive pressure, and ensuring sustainability from both environmental and socio-economic perspectives.

Among the most significant measures are: the elimination of purse-seine fishing; the establishment of a single annual draw for fixed fishing gear; specific provisions to prevent seabird bycatch with longlines; the creation of a census; and the establishment of a Co-management Committee comprising fishermen, social stakeholders, and the administration. An important novelty is the limitation of fishing effort by setting a maximum of 180 fishing days per year for artisanal vessels covered by the Management Plan. This effort will be monitored through “green boxes” and sales notes from catches.

The new decree also amends three existing ones. Firstly, Article 2 of Decree 10/2019 of February 15th is amended to require that trawlers based in the Balearic Islands join the Sistema de Localización y Seguimiento de Embarcaciones Pesqueras de las Islas Baleares (SLSEPIB) and be equipped with the so-called “green box.” This measure, already applied to small-scale and purse-seine vessels, will provide a comprehensive view of the activity of the entire professional fishing fleet of the Balearic Islands, thus contributing to better resource management and a clearer picture of real fishing effort in local waters.

Secondly, in line with recent management measures, Decree 41/2015 of May 22nd, which regulates the extraction of marine flora and fauna and underwater activities in the marine reserves of the Balearic Islands, is amended to remove smooth-hounds (Mustelus spp) from Annex I of protected species within marine reserves. This change follows Order 17/2025 of June 26th, which set a minimum catch size for these species throughout the internal waters of the Balearic Islands, already ensuring protection for juveniles.

Finally, Article 5 of Decree 34/2014 of August 1, on general principles of recreational fishing in internal waters, is amended to align the validity of recreational spearfishing licenses with that of other recreational fishing licenses, extending it from one year to three. This modification will reduce unnecessary procedures and lighten the administrative burden for both the administration and citizens, without compromising control or safety mechanisms, since the current requirements of minimum age, weapons permit (federative license), and valid insurance remain in place.