A dispute over the planned expansion of the Es Freus Marine Reserve has intensified after the recreational fishing platform Stop Falsas Reservas accused the Balearic government, led by the Partido Popular (PP), of disregarding opposition from fishers in Ibiza and Formentera.

The platform’s spokesperson, Diego Alcalde, has criticised the government’s approach following President Marga Prohens’ announcement that more than 2,000 additional hectares of marine area would be protected. The group argues that the proposed changes place further restrictions on recreational fishing while allowing professional fishing to continue under regulated conditions.

The dispute comes after months of disagreement between recreational fishing groups on the two islands over the details of the proposed expansion. Stop Falsas Reservas says it intends to organise further demonstrations in Ibiza during the first three months of 2027.

Platform Says More Than 4,000 Signatures Were Ignored

According to Alcalde, recreational fishers in Ibiza and Formentera collected more than 4,000 signatures opposing the expansion. He argues that the government failed to take their concerns into account and accuses officials of dividing the recreational fishing sector to secure support for the proposal.

Alcalde has singled out Toni Grau, the Balearic government’s director-general for Fisheries, over discussions with recreational fishing representatives in Formentera. He claims those discussions contributed to the emergence of a separate association on the island that subsequently supported an agreement on the expansion.

Stop Falsas Reservas says its own representatives were not invited to a meeting in Formentera involving Grau and the regional minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment, Joan Simonet. The platform alleges that an agreement was subsequently reached with the local fishing guild and the recreational fishing association.

These accusations reflect the platform’s account of the negotiations. The available reporting does not independently establish that officials deliberately divided the sector or acted improperly.

Different Views among Recreational Fishers

The controversy has exposed a split between recreational fishing interests in Ibiza and Formentera.

The proposed expansion was developed following a process involving the Formentera Island Council and representatives of professional fishing, recreational fishing and diving. The regional government described the draft as an attempt to improve marine conservation while making fishing regulations more consistent.

However, the Ibiza-based platform Pereyna and its supporters have argued that the proposed rules disadvantage certain recreational activities, particularly spearfishing. Recreational fishing representatives in Formentera have taken a more supportive position towards the agreement underpinning the draft.

Alcalde claims the proposed arrangements would exclude spearfishing while allowing certain forms of rod-and-line fishing under specific conditions. The disagreement is therefore not simply about the size of the protected area, but also about which activities would be permitted and how restrictions would be applied.

What the Proposed Expansion Would Change

The expansion was first set out in a draft decree opened to public consultation in April 2026. The proposal covered more than 2,400 hectares around Formentera, comprising approximately 1,710 hectares to the northeast of the island and another 783 hectares west of Cap de Barbaria.

The draft also included a new fishing closure between s’Espardell and s’Espalmador, alongside changes to rules governing recreational and professional fishing in the Pityusic Islands.

The regional government said the measures were intended to strengthen marine conservation, improve the connectivity of protected areas and make fishing regulations easier to understand and apply. Proposed measures for professional fishing included changes to the period during which lobster nets could be deployed and a minimum size of 35 centimetres for greater amberjack.

Stop Falsas Reservas disputes the balance between conservation and fishing access. The platform argues that recreational fishers face disproportionate restrictions while professional fishing remains permitted in parts of the protected area.

It describes the existing system as a form of protection that, in its view, does not sufficiently protect marine ecosystems. That is the platform’s assessment, rather than an independently established conclusion about the ecological effectiveness of the reserve.

Demonstrations Planned for Early 2027

Stop Falsas Reservas says it intends to organise a demonstration in Ibiza in January, February or March 2027. Alcalde said the group would continue campaigning against restrictions it considers unfair to recreational fishers and people who use the sea for leisure.

The platform is calling for a model that it says would combine effective marine protection with greater inclusion for recreational fishing. It argues that fully protected areas should be prioritised rather than rules that, in its view, disproportionately restrict particular fishing methods.

The next steps will depend on the government’s handling of the expansion and the final regulatory text. Although Prohens announced the planned addition of more than 2,000 hectares in October, the announcement alone does not establish that the new boundaries and rules have already entered into force.

The debate over Es Freus is now centred on two competing priorities: strengthening marine protection and ensuring that restrictions are considered fair by the different fishing communities affected by the changes.