Line of action:

Status:

Execution date:

General Objective:

To promote and encourage the protection and conservation of the fisheries and natural resources of the marine reserves of fishing interest in Spain and Natura 2000 Network areas within the scope of the project.

Specific objectives:

• To improve the management of the marine reserve of La Punta de la Restinga-Mar de las Calmas, as well as the Natura 2000 Network spaces that they host, through governance work through the meeting and reciprocal training process between the different users of the marine reserves and to maintain and improve the state of comfort of the marine reserves of Cabo de Palos-Islas Hormigas, Cabo de Gata-Níjar and Columbretes Islands, Tabarca Island and Levante Mallorca-Cala Ratjada through the monitoring and control of the initiatives developed in previous phases of PESCARES.
• Develop initiatives not initially contemplated, both sectoral and collective, in conjunction with the Administrations that promote collaborative work and guide management from the point of view of the sectors that operate in the Marine Reserves.
• To highlight the social benefit of Marine Reserves and Natura 2000 Network areas in the marine environment as an example of sustainable fishing and synergies between artisanal fishing, recreational diving and the scientific sector.

The success of the PESCARES project is the collaboration of each and every one of the sectors present in the marine reserves of fishing interest in which it has been developed. PESCARES IV has strengthened the procedures, protocols and methodology followed and successfully applied in the marine reserves of Cabo de Palos-Islas Hormigas, Cabo de Gata-Níjar, Islas Columbretes, Isla de Tabarca and Levante de Mallorca-Cala Rajada and has successfully applied these same objectives in governance standards in the marine reserve of Punta de la Restinga-Mar de las Calmas (El Hierro).

The results developed jointly by all the actors and sectors operating in the different marine reserves of fishing interest in which the project has worked have been communicated to the public, highlighting the value of the different sectors (artisanal fishing, responsible recreational diving, regional and state administrations, etc.) and the protection and sustainability of these protected areas: Marine Reserves of Fishing Interest.

The regulations, lists of diving clubs and schools with authorization to practice diving activities, the census of entities in the fishing sector that operate in the project’s target reserves have been compiled and updated and have been published on the project’s website, thus making it available to the general public.

A living framework document of the IPMR of Punta de la Restinga – Mar de las Calmas has been created, including protocols, processes and procedures, as well as the previous standardisations obtained in marine reserves in which PESCARES has already been implemented.

Working meetings have been held with the sectors involved in the RMIP of Punta de la Restinga – Mar de las Calmas, as well as in other reserves subject to the project in previous phases, including non-face-to-face meetings between the different interlocutors with representatives of the International Responsible Recreational Diving Committee.

Several audiovisual pieces have been made: an audiovisual on the RMIP of Punta de la Restinga – Mar de las Calmas: Marine Reserve of Fishing Interest, Island of El Hierro, broadcast on Movistar +; an audiovisual piece as a report on the value of the PIGR of Punta de la Restinga – Mar de las Calmas. In addition, several short interview videos have been developed with representatives of different sectors of the RMIP and the audiovisual production Protagonistas, created in PESCARES I, has been expanded with representatives of the different sectors of the RMIP of Punta de la Restinga-Mar de las Calmas.

Likewise, and jointly with all the sectors involved, a document has been prepared to analyse the feasibility of the fight against poaching, holding meetings with the General Secretariat of Fisheries on this issue.

Specific training was carried out with a positive result in the transmission of knowledge and understanding. The training manual for the RMIP of Punta de la Restinga – Mar de las Calmas is generated.

The main conclusion revolves around the demand for attention from the administrations towards the sectors involved in the project. Faced with the response of the administrations in regulations and bulletins, these sectors continue to demand dialogue, monitoring and current and updated platforms.

The results of the project have been disseminated to the public, highlighting the protection and sustainability of protected areas and with the support of the different sectors.