The dolphinfish fishing season opens with 'llampuguera'

The ban on dolphinfish fishing was lifted this Sunday, August 25, and the campaign will extend until December 31, but it must be remembered that, as fishing is prohibited for professionals on weekends, the first day that boats can go out to sea to fish will be this Monday, August 26.

Thus begins one of the most anticipated campaigns for the sector -and for consumers-, due to the good commercial results it provides to the artisanal fishermen of the Balearic Islands.

There are up to 35 boats dedicated to fishing for dolphinfish - with the port of Cala Rajada being the most important, having seven boats. Last year, a total of 99,486 kilograms were caught, which brought in total revenues of 592,376 euros to the sector. The catches usually range between 80 and 120 tonnes for the entire campaign, and for this 2024, a similar year is expected in terms of catches and revenues.

In this regard, it must be remembered that this year Regulation (EU) 2024/259 has come into force, which sets, for 2024, the fishing opportunities applicable to certain populations and population groups of fish in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, and sets a maximum effort of 45 boats for Spain, and allowable catch totals (TAC) of 127 tonnes. "This is the first time that there is a TAC, but we must say that we agree with the measure. Additionally, we have participated in the drafting of the final document through the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). This committee ruled that the dolphinfish population in the Mediterranean is in a good state of conservation and that its fishing is sustainable," explained the Director-General of Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau. Regulation (EU) 2024/259 also affects recreational fishing, setting a maximum quota of 10 kilograms or five fish of any size per person per day, and in the period between August 15 and December 31.

This type of fishing, with the art of llampuguera, is a traditional activity on the island of Mallorca, with the brotherhoods of Cala Rajada and Alcúdia being the most relevant in terms of catches. The Producers Organization OPMallorcaMar, for its part, regulates the catches of its members, establishing a maximum daily catch of 150 kilograms of dolphinfish per boat.

Fishing for dolphinfish with llampuguera is exclusive to professional fishermen of minor arts (Fishing activity carried out with trammel nets, stop gears, boat-drawn gear, hook and line gear, traps or dolphinfish traps), therefore, the regulations provide for significant economic sanctions for professional vessels of other modalities or for recreational vessels that fish less than 250 meters away from the capcers that concentrate the fish.