We welcome the increase in the minimum size for smouth-hound fishing

The government of the Balearic Islands has announced a minimum size for Smouth-hound (Mustelus mustelus) fishing to promote the conservation of this species. From now on, in inland waters it will only be possible to catch mussels that are at least 110 cm long, i.e. the size that these animals are estimated to be when they have reached their first maturity.

At Marilles, we are happy to have contributed to this decision by financing a study on the size of the sharks that pass through the Palma fish market, carried out by Biel Morey, Olga Reñones, and Francesc Verger. The study shows that most of the spotted catsharks caught are immature and are therefore caught before they can reproduce to perpetuate the species.

You can check out the results in the presentation made by Reñones at the 1st Balearic Marine Biodiversity Conference and in the Balearic Sea Report.