{"id":45282,"date":"2024-09-20T11:00:57","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T09:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnestartit.com\/pesca-i-conservacio-de-les-especies-del-pn\/"},"modified":"2024-09-20T16:50:14","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T14:50:14","slug":"fishing-and-conservation-of-natural-park-species","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.cnestartit.com\/en\/fishing-and-conservation-of-natural-park-species\/","title":{"rendered":"The balance between fishing and conservation: regulations protecting the Montgr\u00ed, Medes Islands, and Baix Ter Natural Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The coastline of Costa Brava is a natural gem that hosts a great diversity of marine species, many of which are protected, or have regulated fishing, in order to ensure their conservation. Protected natural areas play a key role in preserving this natural wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Montgr\u00ed, Medes Islands, and Baix Ter Natural Park is a clear example of this. Thanks to its long history of protected status, its marine ecosystems have been preserved. In the early 1980s, the maritime domain became subject to an official protection law by the Catalan government, which prohibited fishing and the extraction of living marine resources. This law has evolved to improve conservation strategies, thanks to numerous scientific studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Order of November 25, 1983<\/strong>: Fishing and the extraction of living marine resources are prohibited along the coast of the Medes Islands. This order marks the first step towards the protection of this environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Law 19\/1990, December 10<\/strong>: Expansion of protection with the conservation of marine flora and fauna of the Medes Islands, highlighting the need to preserve their unique ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barcelona Convention (2001)<\/strong>: The seabeds of the Medes Islands are included in the list of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI), recognizing their ecological value internationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decree 222\/2008, November 11<\/strong>: Approval of the Management and Usage Plan for the Protected Area of the Medes Islands (PRUG), establishing specific regulations for the management and use of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Law 15\/2010, May 28<\/strong>: Creation of the Montgr\u00ed, Medes Islands, and Baix Ter Natural Park, unifying the protection of these areas and declaring the Medes Islands as an Integral Nature Reserve to ensure their full conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Despite the regulations, Costa Brava remains a highly sought-after destination, and the large influx of visitors threatens the treasures found in the sea. As a company in the tourism sector, this situation drives us to raise awareness about the marine environment and educate visitors on its fragility.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some of the species along the Montgr\u00ed coastline with protected status<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Marine fauna<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Seahorse<\/strong> (Hippocampus hippocampus i H. guttulatus<\/em>): A small fish that lives in Posidonia seagrass beds. Its decline is due to habitat loss and pollution, and it is under strict protection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Basking Shark <\/strong> (Cetorhinus maximus<\/em>): One of the largest sharks, though harmless, feeds on zooplankton and small fish. Due to intense fishing exploitation in the last century, it is considered threatened and protected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Pen Shell <\/strong> (Pinna nobilis<\/em>): A bivalve mollusk endemic to the Mediterranean that can live up to 50 years. It is vulnerable to anchoring and the destruction of Posidonia beds. Since 2016, it has been affected by the parasitic protozoan Haplosporidium pinnae<\/em>, making it even rarer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Shag<\/strong> (Gulosus aristotelis<\/em>): A coastal bird that gathers on the rocks in the summer. It is protected along the entire coast.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Coralligenous<\/strong>: A key biological community in the Mediterranean, hosting about 10% of marine species. It is made up of various calcareous algae and sponges, creating complex structures that provide refuge for many species.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Bottlenose Dolphin<\/strong> (Tursiops truncatus<\/em>): A common cetacean along the Montgr\u00ed coast, where it feeds. It is protected, and respectful behaviour<\/a> is recommended when sighted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Loggerhead Turtle<\/strong> (Caretta caretta<\/em>): Vulnerable to collisions with boats and plastic ingestion. It is protected throughout the coastline, and sightings are encouraged to be reported<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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    Marine Vegetation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Marine Phanerogams<\/strong>: These are plants adapted to life underwater. In Catalonia, the most common species are Posidonia oceanica<\/em>, Cymodocea nodosa<\/em>, and others. These plants form vital meadows for the marine ecosystem, providing shelter and food for many species, capturing CO\u2082, and protecting the coastline from erosion.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Ma\u00ebrl Beds:<\/strong> These are formed by calcareous red algae that develop at depths starting from 20 meters, creating a three-dimensional system crucial for biodiversity. These habitats capture CO\u2082 and play a role in mitigating climate change.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        <\/div>\n\n\n\n
        \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        <\/div>\n\n\n\n

        Both are protected habitats due to their ecological importance<\/a> and their relevance to fishing, but they are highly vulnerable to human activities. Therefore, they require urgent protection and conservation measures<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        <\/div>\n\n\n\n

        Recreational fishing in the Montgr\u00ed, Medes Islands, and Baix Ter Natural Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        <\/div>\n\n\n\n

        Some species, despite their great ecological importance, are also targeted by both professional and recreational fishers<\/a>. To ensure their sustainability, recreational fishing is subject to strict regulations that establish temporary bans, minimum sizes, and catch limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        <\/div>\n\n\n\n
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        1. Gilt-head bream and sea bass<\/strong> (Sparus aurata and Dicentrarchus labrax<\/em>): These are two of the most common and sought-after species. As a result, recreational fishing is regulated with weight and size limits to prevent population decline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Octopus and cuttlefish <\/strong>(Octopus vulgaris <\/em>i Sepia officinalis<\/em>):<\/strong> Their fishing is regulated throughout Catalonia, with specific closed seasons<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Sea urchins <\/strong> (Paracentrotus lividus<\/em>):<\/strong> Harvesting is regulated to prevent overexploitation. A spearfishing license is required for recreational harvesting, and a maximum of 150 sea urchins per day can be collected by hand, using traditional tools or selective gear that complies with size regulations<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Lobsters and spiny lobsters<\/strong> (Palinurus elephas and Homarus gammarus)<\/em>: Their fishing is subject to moratoriums in some areas and is strictly regulated across Costa Brava, with specific bans. Recreational fishing for these species is prohibited.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. Grouper and brown meagre <\/strong>(Epinephelus marginatus and Sciaena umbra)<\/em>: Although these species have benefited from the implementation of protected zones, they are highly sought after. Therefore, it is essential to follow the rules and recommendations for recreational fishing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          <\/div>\n\n\n\n

          The species found in the Montgr\u00ed, Medes Islands, and Baix Ter Natural Park extend beyond its boundaries, and protection levels vary depending on the area. It is advisable to consult the responsible authorities before engaging in extractive activities to ensure compliance with regulations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Respecting the laws not only protects vulnerable species but also ensures the sustainability of marine resources for future generations!
          <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          The coastline of Costa Brava is a natural gem that hosts a great diversity of marine species, many of which are protected, or have regulated fishing, in order to ensure their conservation. Protected natural areas play a key role in preserving this natural wealth. The Montgr\u00ed, Medes Islands, and Baix Ter Natural Park is a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":45248,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sustainability-en-2"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.cnestartit.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.cnestartit.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.cnestartit.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.cnestartit.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.cnestartit.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45282"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/staging.cnestartit.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45282\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.cnestartit.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.cnestartit.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.cnestartit.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.cnestartit.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}