The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment has opened the public consultation process for the draft Decree establishing a Fisheries Management Plan for professional fishing in the bays of Pollença and Alcúdia, which also amends three existing regulations on fisheries and recreational fishing.
The proposal, promoted by the fishermen’s guilds of Pollença, Alcúdia and Cala Rajada, aims to safeguard fishing activity, maintain the fleet, production, and jobs, while at the same time introducing measures to reduce fishing effort.
The Minister, Joan Simonet, stated that the plan «once again demonstrates the Government’s support for the primary sector, to ensure the environmental, economic and social sustainability of professional fishing».
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Balearic Government opens public consultation on new Fisheries Management Plan for the northern bays of Mallorca
Meanwhile, the Director General of Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau, explained that fishing in these bays follows a highly seasonal model —with intensive activity between February and August—, which has helped conserve resources but does not fully align with current regulations. For this reason, a specific rule is being drafted that incorporates scientific evidence, socioeconomic factors, and the experience of the guilds.
Key measures of the plan
- Elimination of purse seine fishing.
- Establishment of a single annual draw for fixed gear.
- Specific rules to avoid seabird bycatch with longlines.
- Creation of a fishing census and a Co-management Committee including fishermen, government and social partners.
- Maximum limit of 180 fishing days per year for artisanal vessels, monitored through green boxes and sales notes.
Additional regulatory changes
- Trawlers based in the Balearic Islands must be included in the SLSEPIB vessel tracking system and equipped with the so-called “green box”.
- Smooth-hounds (Mustelus spp.) will be removed from the list of protected species in marine reserves, as they are already covered by a minimum catch size regulation across Balearic waters.
- The validity of recreational spearfishing licenses will be extended to three years (instead of one), aligning them with other recreational licenses and reducing bureaucratic burdens.
Through this new framework, the Balearic Government strengthens its commitment to the sustainable management of marine resources and the socio-economic viability of the traditional fishing fleet in northern Mallorca.