03/06/2012 00:00
TW
0

Palma.—International marine research and protection organisation Oceana warned yesterday that cuts in government spending which affect marine reserves will “seriously affect” the local economy. Profits, said Oceana, brought by the fishing and tourist industries and the environment after several years of protection will be lost. “It's essential to maintain coastal and marine reserve protection,” the organisation said in a statement. “Marine reserves promote the reproduction of the most sought-after species of fish and generate hundreds of thousands of euros a year for the diving and underwater fishing industry,” said Oceana who calculated that only from the Toro reserve, 8 years-old tomorrow, 200'000 euros a year is generated from diving revenue.

Oceana said it had been clearly demonstrated that if marine reserves are properly managed, they can mean healthy profits for the local economy. A scientist confirmed that ten years after the creation of a marine reserve, there was a 600 percent increase in the generation of lobster eggs “a result which meant huge profits for the fishing industry in the long term.” Concern for the future
Oceana wasted no time yesterday in expressing its “alarm” at the fact that there appeared to have been a dramatic downturn in the care and management of marine reserves in the Balearics. “These protected areas account for around 11 percent of high value fish catches,” said Oceana. If activity is allowed to get out of control, it will mean that all the benefits which have been accumulated during these years of healthy management will be lost.” According to the organisation, seven marine reserves were created in the Balearics to encourage proliferation of fish species which were of high economic value to the regional fishing industry and to protect different marine ecosystems. Oceana said that the number of personnel assigned to manage the reserves has been cut in half.