Calvià 12^th October 2016

CALVIÀ HOSTS THESE DAYS THE MEETING OF THE GROUP OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN THE OSPAR CONVENTION

The Deputy Mayor for Tourism, Antonio García Moles, yesterday welcomed on behalf of the Mayor of Calvià, the members of the group of Marine Protected Areas in the OSPAR Convention, who these days meet in Peguera.

The OSPAR Commission is the international cooperation organisation for the protection of the North Atlantic marine environment, composed of 15 European countries including Spain, and the European Union, and that counts on observer organisations such as Oceana, Greenpeace or BirdLife, amongst many others.

In his welcoming remarks, García Moles thanked them for having chosen Calvià to hold the meeting, recalling the actions that are being developed in the municipality for the protection and conservation of the municipal coastline.

He explained that Calvià Town Hall has requested the Regional Government the expansion of the Marine Reserve that will allow to multiply by 9 its protection, going from the current 239 hectares to a total of 2.186 hectares.

He also mentioned other initiatives such as the request of the Natural Park declaration for the area of Cala Figuera-Rafalbetx, the adhesion to Aliança Mar Blava, or the request to the Ministry of Environment to approve the Management Plan of the ZEPA and LIC areas (area of Cala Figuera and the islands of el Toro), which are integrated into the Xarxa Natura 2000, to guarantee the necessary tools and obtain a better management and conservation of these areas.

Finally he referred to the awareness campaigns as well as the seabed and beach cleanups, which are carried out jointly with other organisations, which are aimed at both residents and tourists.

The meetings were also attended by Xavier Pastor, one of the prime movers of the meeting in Peguera.