Three complaints filed for illegal fishing in marine reserves of the islands

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, through the fisheries inspection staff of the Directorate General of Fisheries, has filed three complaints for illegal fishing in marine reserves of the Balearic Islands during the last week. Specifically, these are two infractions in the Migjorn Marine Reserve of Mallorca and another in the Marine Reserve of the northeast coast of Ibiza-Tagomago.

The first case occurred last Thursday, February 1st, in the Migjorn de Mallorca Marine Reserve, when a professional boat was located fishing for squid in the integral area of s'Almonia. This boat was being monitored and its skipper was aware of the Reserve's surveillance boat, which is why the operation was carried out with a different vessel.

The second report took place this Saturday, February 3, during a joint operation of the Marine Reserve Monitoring Service with the Consell Insular de Ibiza and the Guardia Civil. A trammel net haul was found and seized from a professional boat of smaller gears set in the integral reserve of Llosa des Figueral, in the Marine Reserve of the Northeast Coast of Ibiza-Tagomago. The boat in question was also being monitored. In this case, the success of the operation has been the result of the good collaboration between the various administrations.

Finally, on Sunday, February 4th, also in the Migjorn Marine Reserve of Mallorca, a complaint was filed against two spearfishers for catching a 37 cm grouper, a size well below the minimum size of 53 cm allowed for this species in marine reserves. It so happens that one of these people is an experienced fisherman who regularly participates in spearfishing competitions and the other is the owner of a professional fishing boat.

However, the general director of Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau, has stressed that "the preparation, perseverance and cooperation of the different administrations are essential elements to combat illegal fishing". It should be remembered that the Conselleria de Agricultura, Pesca y Medio Natural is in charge of processing these complaints. According to Law 6/2013, of November 7, on maritime fishing, shellfishing and aquaculture in the Balearic Islands, both fishing within integral reserves and the capture of specimens of unregulated size are considered serious offenses and can be punished with up to 30,000 euros fine.