Professional fishermen in Formentera are calling for measures to protect the future of the island's fishing sector, pointing to increasing maritime pressure from recreational vessels and sharply rising operating costs, particularly fuel.

The concerns were raised by Iván Pérez Marí, a member of the Balearic Federation of Fishermen's Guilds and vice-president of the National Federation of Fishermen's Guilds, during a recent meeting with Ibiza and Formentera senator Neus Massanet Florit.

Massanet has committed to taking the sector's concerns to the Senate Fisheries Commission, of which she is a member.

Fishermen say tourism pressure is affecting their work

According to the representatives of Formentera's professional fishing sector, the growing presence of recreational boats, charter vessels, private craft and general maritime traffic is making it increasingly difficult to work in traditional fishing areas.

They say fishermen are being forced to travel farther from areas where they have historically operated, increasing both costs and the risks associated with their working days.

Pérez Marí also argued that Formentera has a limited capacity and cannot continue growing indefinitely.

The fishermen have welcomed recent regulations requiring appropriate qualifications for people operating certain recreational vessels. They are also calling for lower navigation speeds around the island and for a different, more environmentally sustainable model of nautical tourism.

Fuel costs have risen sharply

The economic viability of the fleet is another major concern.

The fishermen say operating costs have increased considerably in recent years, with fuel having a particularly significant impact.

As an example, they say filling the tanks of a fishing vessel cost around €450 approximately three years ago, while the same operation can now cost as much as €1,150.

That figure is a sector-provided example rather than an independently verified average for every Formentera fishing vessel.

The wider situation is also affecting fishing fleets across the Balearic Islands. In September, the Balearic Federation of Fishermen's Guilds reported that professional fishing diesel had risen from around €0.64 per litre in January to approximately €1.40 per litre.

Around 14 or 15 vessels remain operational

The professional fishing fleet in Formentera currently consists of around 14 or 15 operational vessels, according to the sector representatives.

Fishermen say the combination of higher costs and difficulties accessing available support is making it increasingly challenging to maintain a viable business.

There are subsidies from the Balearic Government, but the sector says some of the requirements make them difficult for certain vessels to access, including minimum turnover conditions.

Fishermen point to improved catches

Despite the economic difficulties, the sector says the management of fishing resources around Formentera has produced positive results.

According to figures provided by the Fishermen's Guild, professional catches reached around 170 tonnes in 2024, approximately 35% more by weight than the previous year.

The fishermen say the improvement in local fish stocks has created another challenge, however, with vessels from Alicante reportedly showing interest in coming to Formentera to fish.

The sector argues that local fishermen who have contributed to resource management should receive an appropriate return from those efforts and adequate protection from increased outside fishing pressure.

Calls for policies adapted to island conditions

The fishermen are also calling for greater recognition of Formentera's particular territorial circumstances when fishing policies are designed.

They argue that measures developed at a broader level do not always reflect the realities of small islands, where limited space, tourism pressure and the costs associated with operating a fishing vessel can have a greater impact.

The sector wants future policies to take these factors into account when determining support and management measures.

Senator promises to raise concerns in Madrid

Neus Massanet met with Pérez Marí at the Formentera Fishermen's Guild to hear the sector's concerns.

The senator has said she will take the issues raised during the meeting to the Fisheries Commission of the Spanish Senate.

The issues include the economic viability of the local fleet, maritime pressure from recreational vessels, navigation conditions and the application of fishing policies to island territories.

A wider fuel crisis for Balearic fishing

Formentera's fishermen are raising their concerns at a time when the wider Balearic fishing sector is also facing significantly higher fuel costs.

The Balearic Federation of Fishermen's Guilds warned in September that the rise in professional fishing diesel was putting the economic viability of vessels under severe pressure.

The federation said fuel represented more than half of the direct operating costs for some vessels and called for measures that would provide greater stability in fuel prices.

Those figures apply to the Balearic fleet as a whole and do not establish the exact fuel expenditure of Formentera's vessels.

Protecting a small local fleet

Formentera's professional fishing sector is now seeking measures that allow the remaining local vessels to continue operating in an increasingly busy maritime environment.

The fishermen's concerns centre on maintaining economically viable vessels, protecting traditional fishing areas and ensuring that the management of the island's marine resources also benefits the professionals who work there.

For the sector, the challenge is finding a balance between Formentera's tourism and nautical activity and the continued presence of a small professional fishing fleet that remains part of the island's economic and cultural landscape.