The Government Sets Daily Catch Quotas for Recreational Fishing of Certain Species

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Environment, through the Directorate General of Fisheries, has established, for the first time, daily maximum catch quotas per license for recreational fishing of European seabass (lubina), gilt-head bream (dorada), dentex (dentón), and all grouper species (meros).

The measure, which was consulted with the island councils and has sector support, was agreed upon within the Co-Management Commission for Recreational Sea Fishing in the Balearic Islands. The resolution from the Director General of Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau, which has already been published in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB), sets both an individual daily quota and a per-boat daily quota.

"The main goal is to conserve the Balearic Islands' marine resources through sustainable fishing, involving the sector in the process. This measure has been fully agreed upon with the fishing community, which has been asking to participate in decision-making processes that directly affect them," stated Grau.

The individual daily quota applies per person, covering spearfishers, shore anglers, and recreational boat fishers. Meanwhile, the per-boat daily quota considers total catches per boat, regardless of the number of people on board. For example, in the case of dentex, a boat with seven people on board would still only be allowed to catch three specimens in total.

Daily Catch Quotas for These Species

The Director General of Fisheries noted that in the future, new quotas could be introduced or existing ones modifiedfor other species, such as scorpionfish (cabracho), provided there is majority support within the Co-Management Commission for Recreational Sea Fishing in the Balearic Islands.

It is important to remember that recreational sea fishing is a popular leisure activity with tens of thousands of enthusiasts in the Balearic Islands. This practice not only allows people to connect with nature but also generates significant economic and commercial activity, which cannot be overlooked.

"Most recreational fishers care about the conservation and health of marine resources, which is why they want to contribute to preserving marine ecosystems," emphasized Grau.

The Co-Management Commission for Recreational Sea Fishing in the Balearic Islands is a public participation body that includes representatives from all relevant stakeholders and affected administrations. Its aim is to improve governance in recreational fishing and promote the participation of this sector in conserving marine resources and managing recreational fishing to ensure sustainability.

It should be noted that the Balearic Government created this body in 2024 to respond to demands from the fishing sector, which had been seeking greater access to information and more involvement in decision-making processes.