The Government has urged that any innovation in the fishing sector promoted by the European Union must guarantee the safety of the fleet and respect the sustainability of marine resources. This statement was made by sources at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment after the European Parliament recently approved a report with new measures to boost the energy transition of the fishing sector. The European report foresees fleet renewal programs, changes to current legislation, and increased funding to facilitate the decarbonization of EU vessels. According to the text, achieving climate neutrality by 2050 will only be possible if the European fleet is modernized through a just transition that takes into account the economic impact on fishers, especially small operators. The Balearic Government has pointed out that the Balearic Islands' fleet is mostly small, with vessels under ten meters in length, which limits current technological options. Therefore, they argue that building new ships with electric motors and rechargeable batteries in port, along with adapting port infrastructure, is the most viable alternative. Regarding trawling, regional sources have highlighted that optimizing fishing gear, such as bottom-opening doors, allows for a reduction of up to 30% in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. This measure is already being successfully implemented in the Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) of Mallorca and Menorca. The European Parliament report, approved with 450 votes in favor, 93 against, and 37 abstentions, also proposes energy audits financed with European funds, the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence to optimize fishing routes, and a data-driven roadmap for progressive decarbonization.

The European Union's fisheries ministers finalized an agreement in the early hours of the morning on fishing opportunities for 2026 in EU waters of the Atlantic and on fishing days in the Mediterranean, which will ultimately be set at 143 days. The agreement concludes two intense days of negotiations among the member states. Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, celebrated the outcome, calling it a "clear success," especially considering that the European Commission's initial proposal offered only 9.7 days of annual fishing for the trawler fleet. "We have secured 143 days for our Mediterranean vessels," he stated in a message posted on social media.

Twelve environmental groups and marine conservation organizations have expressed their "utmost concern" regarding the proposed expansion of the Freus Marine Reserve in Ibiza and Formentera. The proposal seeks to relax current regulations to allow for greater recreational fishing and increased catches within this protected area. The organizations believe this initiative represents a worrying shift at a time when Europe and Spain are moving towards a commitment to protect 30% of the marine area by 2030, with 10% strictly protected. The signatory organizations affirm their strong support for any progress in the creation or expansion of marine protected areas, but warn that doing so at the expense of lowering their level of protection would be "flagrant and counterproductive." They point out that, since 1999, significant public resources have been allocated to consolidate a network of marine reserves based on scientific criteria, as established by the Balearic Islands Fisheries Law. The proposed amendment to the decree regulating the extraction of marine fauna and flora in reserves is generating "serious concern" among environmental groups. They consider it especially worrying that the regulations for protected waters are being equated with those for waters without any protection status, as well as the elimination of the recreational fishing ban zone in Espardell. They fear this will lead to an increase in recreational fishing effort in the reserve, a scenario that could jeopardize the progress made in species recovery and the survival of the small-scale fishing fleet, already in decline but essential for food sovereignty and the blue economy. The organizations point out that, far from being detrimental, the creation of marine reserves has coexisted with a sharp increase in recreational fishing licenses, which already exceed 45,000 in the Balearic Islands. Therefore, they consider it unjustified to present marine protection as an obstacle to the recreational sector. The proposal recently approved by the PP and Vox parties in the Consell d'Eivissa opens the door to authorizing spearfishing within the reserve, a practice that, they point out, severely affects coastal species and compromises their ecological benefits. This is compounded by the lack of reliable data from the recreational sector, which reports the fewest catches and accumulates the most sanctions for illegal or unlicensed fishing. Environmental groups argue that the political initiative was presented "without technical or scientific support" and departs from the model that has guaranteed the success of the Balearic network of marine reserves. They warn that it could set a dangerous precedent that jeopardizes marine protection throughout the archipelago. Given this scenario, the organizations are demanding an immediate moratorium on any regulatory changes promoted by the Balearic Government at the request of the Consell d'Eivissa and the recreational fishing associations of the Pitiusas Islands. They also call for a participatory process involving all sectors and including the participation of scientific bodies such as CEAB-CSIC, IMEDEA-CSIC, IEO-CSIC, and the public companies IRFAP-Tragsatec, with the aim of ensuring informed decisions supported by scientific evidence. The signatory organizations include Raíces Marinas, Ecologistas en Acción, Fundación Iniciativas del Mediterráneo, Fundación Marilles, Fundación Cleanwave, Fundación por la Conservación de Ibiza y Formentera, Fundación Save the Med, GEN-GOB, GOB Mallorca, GOB Menorca, Greenpeace, and the Port Ramassa Platform.

The Council of Mallorca has approved a new resolution to intensify the control of the blue crab (Callinetas sapidusThe blue crab, an invasive species that has spread rapidly to various parts of the island since it was first detected in the Albufera lagoon in 2017, is now in use. The new regulations, promoted by the Department of the Environment, Rural Affairs, and Sports, will come into effect on January 1st and will remain in force until the 2nd. This new regulation eliminates territorial restrictions: from now on, the capture of the blue crab will be permitted in all island waters of Mallorca where river fishing is allowed, with the exception of protected natural areas. In these areas, fishing will only be permitted with specific authorization and in accordance with the regulations of each zone. Furthermore, the resolution expands the range of tools that can be used to capture the species. From now on, the use of rods, strips, landing nets, or pliers—with a maximum of two active tools per person—will be allowed to facilitate more efficient fishing adapted to each waterway. Until now, the restrictions significantly limited the ability of anglers to remove crabs. The Second Vice President of the Consell and Island Councillor for the Environment, Pedro Bestard, emphasized that this resolution "reinforces the institution's commitment to protecting the natural environment" and allows for "broader and more effective action against the proliferation of the blue crab." He stressed that the measure responds to "the need to make control more efficient against a highly adaptive and predatory species." Five years of monitoring and 15,000 specimens withdrawn

The blue crab control program, active since 2020, has recorded nearly 15,000 catches and more than 1,000 authorized fishermen across Mallorca. The initiative has been developed in collaboration with the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), which analyzed the data collected by the Hunting Service and published a scientific study. One of the conclusions is that regulated recreational fishing can be an effective tool to curb the species' spread. Bestard emphasized the importance of research in this process: "The collaboration with the UIB is essential for making informed decisions and advancing rigorous and effective environmental management." Since its arrival, the blue crab has spread to areas such as the Garganta, the Canyamel stream, Portocristo, and the Sant Jordi stream in Pollença, affecting local aquatic ecosystems and jeopardizing biodiversity.

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The Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment will open a sanctioning procedure against a professional fishing vessel for fishing in the Levante de Mallorca Marine Reserve, which could result in a fine of up to €60,000 and the revocation of its license.

]]> The Pitiusas, with their marine wealth and unique biodiversity, face increasing challenges due to human pressure, overexploitation of resources, and the effects of climate change. In this context, the creation and expansion of marine reserves is essential to reconcile human activities with the conservation of marine biodiversity.

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The Government has reported that this year the fishing of the raor (Xyrichtys novacula) in the inland waters of Mallorca and Menorca will begin on Sunday, August 31, 2025, one day earlier than usual. The Director General of Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau, has indicated that "this exceptional modification" was approved by the Balearic Islands Recreational Fishing Co-Management Commission, at the proposal of the sector that supplies the equipment for raor fishing.

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The Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Natural Environment, through the Directorate General of Fisheries, will negotiate with the sector on the proposed expansion of the Freus Marine Reserve during its processing, with the goal of achieving "the broadest possible consensus." This was stated by the Regional Ministry in a press release on Wednesday, in which it emphasized that recreational fishing can be practiced normally in marine reserves, as has been the case in Freus for the past 25 years.

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A 77-year-old man died this Friday after falling from a cliff in Cala Sant Vicenç while fishing with his grandson. The accident occurred at around 9:00 a.m. this Friday while the man was fishing with his 15-year-old grandson and apparently slipped or tripped.

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The Government formally conveyed to the European Commission its "deep concern" regarding the European Commission's proposal to cut the budget allocated to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) between 2028 and 2034. According to the Commission's proposal, the CAP would be reduced from the current €386 billion. The Regional Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment, Joan Simonet, explains that this reduction "could translate into a loss of around €15 million per year in the Balearic Islands."

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