Red porgy is under sustainable fishing conditions in the Balearics

The Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment, through the Directorate General for Fisheries and the Balearic Islands Institute for Agri-Food and Fisheries Research and Training (IRFAP), with the collaboration of Tragsatec, is carrying out a study on the genetic variability of fish in the waters of the Balearic Islands.

The aim of the study, which is being carried out at the facilities of the Marine Research and Aquaculture Laboratory (LIMIA) in the Port of Andratx, is to define the state of the different species based on their spatial genetic variability (between different areas of the Mediterranean) and temporal variability (different years). In addition, it focuses on fish species of fishing interest, which are those of high commercial value and which are protected under the Millor quín quality mark, managed by Opmallorcamar.

In this sense, the loss of genetic diversity is associated with a reduction in population size, whether due to overexploitation of the species, the effect of pathogens, or environmental pollution, among others, and conditions the sustainability of fishery resources. In the specific case of Red porgy (Pagrus pagrus), the preliminary results indicate high values of genetic diversity, values that have been maintained over the last three years of monitoring and which suggest that the populations of this species in the Balearic Islands are under sustainable fishing conditions.

According to the researcher leading the project, Gaetano Catanese, "the protected maritime areas, together with the possible recruitment of some juvenile individuals of the same species from other neighbouring geographical areas, can play an important role in maintaining the biodiversity and genetic variability of the Balearic Red porgy, as well as other species of fishing interest, ensuring their survival and genetic diversity and contributing to the conservation of our marine ecosystem".

For his part, the director general of Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau, stressed that "national and EU policies aim to promote the sale of healthy, high-quality, local food". Along these lines, Grau added, "the fisheries sector of the Balearic Islands is geared towards the application of sustainable fishing practices, which support and reinforce the local identity of the products, while always respecting the conservation of biodiversity".

Thus, these data not only confirm the current state of sustainable exploitation of some fishery resources in Balearic Islands waters, but also indicate that the protection and effective management of marine reserves can help ensure the long-term survival of species of high commercial interest.

The IRFAP-LIMIA center will continue to carefully monitor the populations of Red porgy and other fish species collected from the fish market and from recreational fishermen collaborating in the project. The intention is to continue analyzing their genetic variability from mitochondrial DNA samples in order to improve knowledge about the role of marine reserves in the conservation of biodiversity.