“We feel watched”: spearfishers call for a more balanced management of the Balearic sea

Spearfishing is currently at the center of growing debate in the Balearic Islands. While enthusiasts defend the activity as one based on selective harvesting, respect for the marine environment, and self-consumption, the restrictions introduced in recent years and the management of certain marine reserves have raised concerns among a community that is calling for greater involvement in decisions affecting the sea.

It was precisely this situation, as well as the values of a sporting activity deeply rooted in the Mediterranean, that Diego Alcalde and Juan Antonio Marí discussed during their appearance on the program Passion for the Sea. During the interview, they analyzed the current challenges facing spearfishing and highlighted the role enthusiasts play in the conservation and understanding of the marine environment.

Both guests emphasized that spearfishing is much more than an extractive activity. For those who practice it, it represents a way of connecting with the sea and with themselves.

“Spearfishing means everything to me. It’s about disconnecting from the world and reconnecting with yourself,” said Juan Antonio Marí. “Even if you don’t take a single fish home, simply enjoying the underwater world makes it worthwhile.”

One of the key messages conveyed during the interview was the defense of spearfishing as one of the most selective forms of fishing available. In fact, the championship recently held in Ibiza in recognition of Juan Antonio Marí’s achievements was organized under the slogan “Spearfishing: 100% Sustainable and Selective”, a statement both interviewees strongly supported.

“Spearfishing is the only fishing method where you can see exactly what you are catching and what you choose not to catch,” they explained. Unlike other fishing techniques, spearfishers can individually select each catch, respecting minimum sizes, protected species, or fish they believe should not be taken.

“It’s not a supermarket. You can dive down, observe the seabed, and decide not to shoot. Some fish simply cannot be caught,” they noted.

During the interview, they also compared spearfishing with other professional fishing methods, particularly nets and trawling, which they consider far less selective.

“When you use nets or longlines, you can end up catching turtles, dolphins, rays, or protected species. There’s no comparison. Spearfishing is unique in that respect,” they stated.

The community’s main concern currently focuses on the management of marine reserves and the restrictions applied to recreational fishing. According to the interviewees, they do not oppose conservation measures or the existence of protected areas, but they believe the current model creates inequalities.

“What we are asking for are fully protected reserves where nobody is allowed to fish. What we do not understand is why some users are restricted while others are not,” said Diego Alcalde.

Spearfishers also argue that many of the decisions affecting their activity are made without their participation. “We have spent years meeting with government authorities, listening to promises, and explaining our position, but we feel we are not being heard,” they lamented.

Another issue that concerns the community is the growing complexity of regulations. “It seems that every year more permits, more restrictions, and more regulations are required just to go out to sea,” they explained.

In their view, this situation is causing many enthusiasts to feel unfairly targeted. “People go to the sea to disconnect, to feel free, and what is being encouraged instead is a feeling of constant surveillance and control,” they argued.

They also expressed concern about generational renewal within the sport. “There are young people who want to get started, but they are facing more and more obstacles to practicing an activity that is part of our maritime culture,” they said.

The interview also addressed the current state of the Balearic seabed from the perspective of people who spend hundreds of hours underwater every year. Both guests acknowledged that they have observed significant changes over recent decades, both in the underwater landscape and in the presence of certain species.

“We are seeing species that would once have been unthinkable in the Balearic Islands, including some that originate from warmer waters,” they explained.

They also called for greater investment in environmental infrastructure and improvements to wastewater treatment systems. “There are issues directly affecting the sea that require real action on land and improvements to infrastructure,” they pointed out.

Despite the challenges they describe, both Diego Alcalde and Juan Antonio Marí continue to defend the cultural, sporting, and social value of spearfishing in the Balearic Islands, noting that the islands have historically been an international reference point for the sport. “Mallorca was, for decades, one of the world’s leading spearfishing destinations,” they recalled.

For this reason, they are calling for the spearfishing community to play an active role in decisions related to marine management. “Those of us who live here and spend so many hours at sea want what is best for our marine resources. The only thing we ask is to be heard.”