- Mayor Juan Antonio Amengual thanks the Balearic Government for its involvement and highlights the tourism, environmental, and heritage value of this new protection measure
- This new delimitation, which guarantees the sustainability of fishing resources, has the support of the affected fishermen's guilds, the professional sector and the Balearic Federation of Guilds
Calvià progresses in its commitment to sustainability and environmental protection with the creation of the new Illes del Ponent Marine Reserve, approved by the Governing Council of the Balearic Government. The new reserve, which replaces the previous 2022 delimitation, encompasses the areas of El Toro, the Malgrats Islands, and l'Illa del Sec, expanding its area to 2.300 hectares, of which 240 will be highly protected. It also adds 93 hectares of a special fishing zone in the Bay of Santa Ponça. With this expansion, the reserve adds an additional 15 hectares of highly protected area and extends the coastal strip included in the protected area by approximately 7 km. This new reserve has the support of the professional fishing sector, the affected guilds, and the Balearic Federation of Fishermen's Guilds.
The mayor of Calvià, Juan Antonio Amengual, has highly valued this initiative, which he considers "a clear example of how collaboration between administrations bears fruit that benefits both the environment and the model of a tourist municipality that we want to continue building." Amengual thanked the Balearic Islands Government for "its involvement and sensitivity towards the Calvià region," highlighting the support it has given the municipality in incorporating such valuable natural sites such as l'Illa del Sec, a long-standing request from the Town Hall that has now been fulfilled.
"Calvià is a leading tourist destination, but we also want to be a benchmark in sustainability. Today, our visitors increasingly value our commitment to the environment, and caring for our natural heritage is not only a responsibility, but an opportunity. This marine reserve not only protects our biodiversity but also enriches our quality tourism offer and benefits residents," the mayor noted.
Tourism, sustainability and conservation
The Illes del Ponent Marine Reserve represents a key action in the municipal environmental conservation strategy, in line with other initiatives promoted by the Town Hall, such as the restoration of the Galatzó Public Estate, the efficient management of water resources, and the use of reclaimed water to irrigate public green areas. All of this is part of a clear roadmap toward a greener, more responsible Calvià, adapted to the challenges of the future.
In addition to preserving unique habitats and marine species, the new reserve will support sustainable diving tourism, which attracts thousands of visitors to Calvià waters each year, and the artisanal fishing sector, thanks to a management model agreed upon with the guilds and adapted to the needs of the environment.
"It is important to emphasise that these policies are not alien to our reality as a tourist municipality. Quite the contrary: they consolidate our identity as an eco-friendly and responsible destination, committed to quality tourism that is environmentally friendly and sensitive to natural and cultural values," Amengual concluded.
