He Professional fishing sector De Mallorca has expressed its satisfaction with the draft of the Decree of the Marine Reserve (RM) of Ponent. Fishermen argue that the unification of reserves had been carried out without their participation, so in the current situation they appreciate that their demands have been taken into account.
The new draft establishes a protected surface that is ten times greater than it was governed until 2022. However, the fishermen’s sector points out that Current protection includes areas with seabed composed of mud and of doubtful biological interest.
A very necessary reserve
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural, through the General Directorate of Fisheries, which since February 6 has come to public information the draft decree by which the Creation of the Ponent de Mallorca Marine Reserve.
«This new reservation will replace the Marine Reserve of the Toro Islands and the Malgrats, created in 2022 and which always It had the opposition of the fishing sector, which has to be the main beneficiary of the measure», Explained the general director of fishing, Antoni M. Grau.
In this sense, Grau emphasizes that “the issues that were intended to be solved were not resolved, since the support of the fishing sector was not ordered nor satisfied the aspirations of its promoters, in particular of the City of Calvià.” On the other hand, this new reservation, says Grau, has the support of the affected brotherhoods and the Balearic Federation of Fishermen’s Brotherhoods And, in addition, during the elaboration process the opinion of the conservation groups of Mallorca has been taken into account.
In this way, with the declaration of the Marine Reserve of Mallorca, the recovery of commercial fish populations of marine reserves in the southwest of the Bay of Palma will be extended, a fact that a fact that a fact that a fact that a fact that a fact that a fact that a fact that a fact that a fact that will favor the artisanal fishing sector and economic activities related to the observation of fish in nature.
“Despite The reserve that is raised is now smaller than the one created in 2022, Since it leaves out open sea areas where they can fish the fence boats of the Brotherhood of Palma, it continues to be 10 times lar of Fishing of Mallorca.
Through The audience and public information process, citizens, as well as holders of legitimate rights and interests affected by this new normative projectcan be informed about the decree and incorporate proposals and suggestions. The contributions may be made from the date of publication on the Portal of Citizen Participation, and until February 26.
Zap or high protection areas in Mallorca
The decree maintains the two special diving zones, now called high protection areas (Zap), of the Island of the Toro and the Malgrats Islands and creates a third around the island of the SEC and its stumbling. In these areas, both recreational and professional fishing (limited to stop arts and jonquillo fishing) are restricted. Besides, I know regulates navigation speed to a minimum of 4 knots and a maximum of 10 knots and the circulation of aquatic motorcycles is prohibited.
High protection areas, in terms of underwater activities, andThey are concrete points where you can do the dives with a daily maximum. Thus, the area of the island of the Toro has six concrete points, which will have to be beaconed, and the Malgrats Islands area will have four specific points, which will also have to be bald.
Las marine reserves are areas where the exploitation of living marine resources is limited to increase the repopulation of fry and encourage the proliferation of the species subject to exploitation or protect ecosystems with differentiated ecological characteristics. Thus, any activity that may affect living marine resources can necessarily be regulated and necessarily has to be all the activities of removing marine flora or fauna and underwater activities.
In the Balearic Islands, the marine reserves have proven, since 1999, an important fishing management tool of the Government to recover the populations of commercial fish, conserve marine natural habitats and help the professional fishing of minor arts. In reserves there are more fish, they are larger, species abound that outside the reserves are scarce and the catches are more important in quantity and quality. On the other hand, marine reserves have consolidated as a valuable reference for tourist diving, with more than 70,000 annual dives. Currently, the Balearic Islands have a network of 12 marine reserves with a total area of 67,000 ha.