Mallorca is stepping up efforts to contain the rapid spread of the blue crab, an invasive species that has been expanding across the island since it was first detected in s’Albufera in 2017. A new resolution issued by the Department of Environment, Rural Affairs and Sports will enable broader and more effective control measures starting January 1, 2026.

The updated regulation removes previous territorial restrictions and authorises the capture of blue crab in all inland waters of Mallorca where freshwater fishing is allowed, except in protected natural areas. In these zones, specific authorisation from the managing authority will be required to ensure that control activities remain compatible with conservation objectives.

The measure also expands the range of tools permitted for capturing the species. Fishers will now be allowed to use rods, lines, hand nets or pincers, with a limit of two active tools per person. Until now, the existing restrictions have significantly limited capture capacity and made extraction efforts more difficult.

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Mallorca strengthens blue crab control measures to curb the spread of this invasive species

According to Pedro Bestard, Second Vice President and head of the Environment Department, the updated regulation “allows us to act more efficiently against a species that is highly adaptive and predatory.” Bestard stressed that the decision reinforces ongoing efforts to protect aquatic ecosystems across Mallorca and to adapt control measures to the species’ current distribution.

Five Years of Control Efforts: Positive Results

Between 2020 and 2024, more than one thousand authorised fishers participated in the monitoring and removal program, registering nearly 15,000 captured specimens. The University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), which collaborated by analysing data collected by the Hunting Service, has published a scientific study confirming that regulated recreational fishing can be an effective tool for managing this invasive species.

Bestard highlighted the importance of scientific collaboration: “Working closely with the academic community, and especially with the UIB, is essential for making informed decisions and ensuring rigorous environmental management.”