Prohens announces program to protect the sea after reducing a marine reserve

PalmMarga Prohens announced on Monday the Balearic Islands Marine Conservation Plan, committing to increase tenfold the area of ​​high protection in waters under regional jurisdiction, reaching 500 square kilometers by 2027, specifically within Cabrera National Park, and up to 600 square kilometers by 2030. The president noted that before the reformulation promoted by the central government, the area was known as the Toro and Les Malgrats Island Marine Reserves. The government reduced the total area of ​​the reserve but increased the previously planned high protection zone. "We lost in quantity, but gained in quality," acknowledged sources involved in drafting the Plan. They also consider Prohens' intention "good," although they admit that "the government's general policy has been to reduce marine protection."

However, they trust the president's word and believe that the expansion of the high-protection area in waters under regional jurisdiction will be carried out within the established timeframe in 2027. However, they admit they don't know what will happen with the 100 square kilometers that Prohens has promised to establish before 2030, given that the political affiliation of the governing party in the next legislature is still unknown.

What does the Plan say?

The Balearic Islands Marine Conservation Plan aims to reverse the loss of marine biodiversity and guarantee the ecological, economic and social sustainability of the Balearic SeaThus, the initiative will implement "concrete measures including protection, surveillance, fisheries management, and scientific monitoring," according to the President of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens. She also emphasized that the Plan "stems from dialogue and shared responsibility" and stressed that "the conservation of the sea will only be possible if it is achieved through consensus and with the participation of all relevant sectors."

To further increase marine protection, the Balearic Government will ask the Spanish government to create a network of strictly protected areas in its external waters "with the goal of reaching 1,500 square kilometers of protected areas by 2028 and 3,000 by 2030," she said. Along the same lines, plans are also underway to promote new marine reserves in external waters, such as the Baix Fondo and Sóller reserves. To ensure that "protection is real and effective, the Government will strengthen the monitoring of protected marine areas with more human, financial, material, and technological resources," Prohens added. To make this commitment effective, the government team will propose to Parliament the incorporation "by law of new infractions to increase penalties and expedite procedures," the president announced. The Plan also includes the approval of conservation projects for vulnerable habitats and species, such as the initiative already approved that seeks to protect sharks and their pods. One of the conservation plans the Executive intends to implement is related to the restoration of shallow bays – inlets of shallow water. Furthermore, the Government wants to create a group of experts and promote a comprehensive scientific monitoring program for marine biodiversity and fisheries before 2027 with the aim of "having solid data to improve the management of resources and marine protected areas," Prohens explained. The data will be published annually and will have an "easy and automatic" access system, she promised.