The Island Council of Formentera has reached a historic agreement between the Fishermen’s Guild and the Recreational Fishermen’s Association to jointly promote the expansion of the Marine Reserve des Freus of Ibiza and Formentera in inland waters. After months of technical work and meetings between all parties involved, the agreed proposal has already been sent to the Directorate General of Fisheries of the Balearic Government to start its official processing.
The expansion seeks to reinforce the protection of marine ecosystems, guarantee the sustainability of artisanal fishing and organize the recreational activities that take place along the island’s coastline. According to the proposal, the reserve will be expanded in two main zones.
On the one hand, on the south coast of Formentera, two new areas will be incorporated to the west and east of Far des Cap, which will connect the current boundaries of the reserve with the straight baseline of the coast. This ecological continuity will be reinforced with a future extension in outer waters -a state competence- currently being processed and aimed at improving the biological connection between the seabed of the island.
On the other hand, in the east of Formentera, the extension of the reserve in inland waters in front of the Es Caló area is planned, with the aim of protecting this enclave and linking it with the Reserve of Punta de sa Creu. The proposal also incorporates a transitional provision that will allow the future integration of the Baix Fondo-es Garroveret area, pending approval by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, thus ensuring a coherent deployment of the set of marine protected areas of Formentera.
“This expansion is not only an environmental bet, but also economic and social: it is to ensure the future of our sea and our seafarers,” said the island’s councilor of Primary Sector, Belén Palermo. After several meetings with professional and recreational fishermen, Palermo stressed the importance of the consensus reached, “a fact that shows that Formentera knows how to find a balance between conservation and activity”.
The expansion of the Freus Marine Reserve will represent a significant advance in the management of the island’s marine environment. Among the expected benefits are an increase in biodiversity, the recovery of fish populations, improved water quality and greater protection for particularly sensitive habitats. In addition, a clear and stable regulatory framework will be established for artisanal fishing and recreational activities, reducing pressure on the most fragile ecosystems.
This initiative is aligned with international marine conservation commitments and with the European objective of protecting 30% of the marine environment by 2030. To achieve this, the Island Council stresses the need to maintain close coordination between administrations and sectors involved, thus consolidating the role of Formentera as a benchmark in sustainable management of the sea.
