Non-Legislative Motion approved to protect the seamounts of the Mallorca Channel

Marilles welcomes the parliament's request to the state for progress on the strict protection of the Mallorca Channel, an area of great ecological value

The Economy Committee of the Parliament of the Balearic Islands has today approved a Non-Legislative Motion (PNL) presented by the PSIB-PSOE to protect the underwater mountains of the Mallorca Channel ‒ Ses Olives, Ausiàs March, and the Émile Baudot escarpment. With this initiative, which received 12 votes in favour and one abstention, Marilles calls on the state government to advance strict protection of this area of extraordinary ecological value where habitats and species of great importance converge.

At Marilles, we celebrate today's approved initiative and hope that the state government will take steps in line with this declaration and in coordination with the recent Marine Conservation Plan announced by the government of the Balearic Islands. It is essential to increase the area of protected marine space and advance strict protection, and for areas so designated to have all their extractive activities regulated, as is the case, for example, in national parks.

The underwater mountains of the Mallorca Channel were recently included in the Natura 2000 Network.  The Émile Baudot seamount hosts unique deep-sea habitats (turf beds, deep-sea corals, etc.) and over 360 documented species, as well as particularly fragile habitats for sponges, gorgonians, and black corals.

A technical document prepared by Marilles presents the ecological evidence demonstrating the need to protect this area.