Marine Reserve Expanded in Spain’s Balearic Islands - Oceana

Victory | September 30, 2022

Marine Reserve Expanded in Spain’s Balearic Islands

The Balearic Islands regional government created a new marine reserve in the Toro and Malgrats islands, home to Posidonia seagrass meadows, gorgonians, and fish such as groupers, meagres, and seabream. The new reserve covers 30 square kilometers (11.5 square miles) — 13 times the size of the previously protected area, which was comprised of two smaller marine reserves. Oceana researched and proposed this additional marine protected area (MPA) in 2007 and more recently joined forces with other stakeholders calling for the two marine reserves to be connected and expanded. Marine reserves are the most protected category of MPAs and include a ban on destructive fishing methods such as bottom trawling.