The case of Ibiza is the precedent that Mallorca is now observing, after the bill to restrict vehicles on the island, which aims to limit the current collapse situation, has already been registered in Parliament. The first season of vehicle limitation application allowed for a reduction of approximately 32,000 in the number of vehicles that could circulate during the regulated period, according to data from the Pitiusan Council. The rule establishes a cap on non-resident vehicles and a specific quota for rental cars, with the aim of reducing saturation.the current collapse situation. The first season of vehicle limitation application allowed for a reduction of approximately 32,000 in the number of vehicles that could circulate during the regulated period, according to data from the Pitiusan Council. The rule establishes a cap on non-resident vehicles and a specific quota for rental cars, with the aim of reducing saturation.

Mallorca is one step closer to being able to limit the entry of vehicles to the island, after the plenary session of the Council approved the law regulating vehicle influx on Friday. The norm must go through Parliament to come into force and cannot be implemented this summer. The question here is whether the president of the insular institution, Llorenç Galmés, will have the law ready for next season, because the legislature could end without the popular leader fulfilling one of his most important commitments. Be that as it may, Mallorca continues to be stuck, as the Council acknowledges in the preamble to the law, where it points out that “the number of tourists Mallorca receives each year has not stopped growing” and that the island “suffers notable and growing pressure on its road structures”.

The regulation of vehicle entry involves a dispute with a business dimension. The large multinationals in the sector, grouped under Baleval, have historically been the main beneficiaries of a market that has grown steadily in recent decades. According to data from this employers' association, a significant portion of the more than 100,000 rental cars circulating in Mallorca are theirs, a large part of them registered outside the Archipelago. Faced with the new regulation, these companies have expressed their rejection of the planned limits. On the other hand, small and medium-sized car rentals of island origin, grouped under AEVAB, have defended the need to set a ceiling to contain saturation and regulate the market.

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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