The Government Limits Maximum Navigation Speed to 10 Knots in Sa Dragonera

For the first time, the Government regulates the speed of boats in the Marine Reserve of Freu de sa Dragonera to protect marine resources.

Joan Simonet: "This measure will contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, benefiting the artisanal fishing sector and economic activities related to fish observation."

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Environment, through the Directorate-General for Fisheries and at the request of the Andratx Town Hall, has regulated for the first time the speed of boats in the Marine Reserve of Freu de sa Dragonera, establishing a maximum navigation speed of 10 knots. Minister Joan Simonet has stated that "this measure will mainly contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and marine resources, benefiting the artisanal fishing sector and economic activities related to fish observation."

The order regulating the speed of boats, which was published yesterday, March 11, in the Official Bulletin of the Balearic Islands (BOIB), also establishes a high protection zone located within this Marine Reserve, around the islets of Es Calafats. In fact, this reserve was the only one in the Balearics that did not have a high protection zone, and the need to create one was highlighted in the Monitoring Commission in September, aiming to favor non-extractive economic activities linked to marine resources.

According to the regulations of maritime fishing, shellfishing, and aquaculture in the Balearics, any activity taking place within marine reserves that may affect living marine resources can be regulated. In this regard, the Director-General of Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau, explained that "it is proven that human-generated underwater noise has harmful effects on marine biodiversity. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures in areas of high biological value to mitigate it." Additionally, Grau added, "in areas of high maritime traffic, such as Freu de Sa Dragonera, noise is closely linked to the speed of boat navigation, and to reduce it, it is essential to regulate navigation speed."

Marine reserves are marine areas where the exploitation of living marine resources is limited to increase the repopulation of juveniles and promote the proliferation of marine species targeted for exploitation or to protect ecosystems with distinctive ecological characteristics. Moreover, Grau emphasized, "they are a fishery management tool to recover populations of commercial fish species and to conserve natural marine habitats and aid in professional fishing with smaller gear."

Furthermore, this year the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Environment is advancing the end of the raor (Xyrichtys novacula) fishing ban in Mallorca and Menorca by one day so that the first day of fishing falls on a Sunday. Therefore, in 2025 the ban will be lifted on Sunday, August 31.

The measure was agreed upon at the proposal of shops dedicated to selling bait for raor fishing and with the approval of the Co-management Commission of Recreational Fishing. It should be noted that the bait comes from the Peninsula and does not arrive in the Balearics during weekends, complicating the necessary supply for the start of the fishing season when September 1, the first workday of fishing, falls on a Monday.

According to the Director-General of Fisheries, "the advancement ensures that fishermen can start the season with adequate supply and that shops can have significant revenue, without compromising the sustainability of the resource or the proper management of fishing activity."