The Government strengthens fishing regulation with the expansion of the Els Freus Marine Reserve

The project plans to expand the protected area by more than 2,400 hectares and strengthen fishing regulation through a proposal agreed upon with the local area.

The Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment has opened the draft decree for the expansion of the Els Freus Marine Reserve of Ibiza and Formentera to public consultation, a key step in its processing that will allow contributions to be gathered from the public and the sectors involved.

The project plans an expansion of more than 2,400 hectares, both in the eastern and western areas of Formentera. Specifically, it extends by 1,710 hectares to the northeast of the island, from Punta Prima until it connects with the Punta de Sa Creu Marine Reserve, and by 783 hectares to the west of Cape Barbaria, up to the boundary of external waters.

This expansion will improve ecological connectivity between protected areas and strengthen the conservation of fishery resources in an area that is in good environmental condition.

The draft decree incorporates the proposal promoted by the Council of Formentera and has been prepared with the participation of the sectors involved, including professional fishers, recreational fishers, and the diving sector, with the aim of making protection of the marine environment compatible with traditional uses.

The Director General for Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau, stressed that “this expansion reflects the commitment to continue moving forward in the responsible management of marine resources, with the involvement of the local area and the affected sectors.” He also noted that “protection is not only being expanded, but the regulations are also being simplified and improvements are being introduced that will make them easier to understand and comply with.”

In this regard, measures are being introduced to move toward more consistent regulation of recreational fishing in the marine reserves of the Pityusic Islands, with common criteria to facilitate implementation. Among other aspects, the plan provides for the standardization of authorized gear and tackle, as well as the regulation of certain methods such as bottom trolling or the use of cephalopods as bait.

With regard to professional fishing, the text includes new management measures such as regulating the period during which nets may be set for lobster fishing, with the aim of promoting the sustainability of the resource, and establishing a minimum size of 35 centimeters for greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili).

In addition, a new no-fishing zone is being created between S’Espalmador and S’Espardell to strengthen the protection of marine habitats and encourage the regeneration of fish populations.

The Director General also emphasized that “marine reserves have proven to be an effective management tool” and pointed out that recent studies indicate that the biomass of commercial fish within the Els Freus Marine Reserve has increased seventeenfold since its creation and is five times greater than outside the Reserve.

With this initiative, the Government continues to move forward in consolidating the network of marine reserves in the Balearic Islands as a key tool for the conservation of marine ecosystems and the sustainable management of fishery resources.

The draft decree may be consulted during the public consultation period, during which citizens and organizations may submit objections and contributions.

The full text of the draft decree can be consulted at the following link: https://www.caib.es/indtrafront/indicadores/nortra/activo/detalle/35462/es.