Balearic President supports rare crab repopulation plans

ANDRATX
BALEARIC President Francesc Antich was in Andratx yesterday, championing an endangered crab species.
He said that the government would continue to support the farming of the “Maja Squinado” crab in the Balearics and its reintroduction into coastal waters, because it is reportedly under threat of extinction.

Antich was speaking yesterday at the “Limia” centre in Andratx which houses a marine research and development scheme. He had gone to see for himself the work that scientific teams are undertaking in establishing a breeding programme. By prior agreement, 52 pairs of the rare crabs were originally taken from waters off Corsica. Once the crabs have been given maximum assistance for a successful breeding programme, they will be released off the coast of Majorca and into the natural marine park of the island of Cabrera. The ultimate aim of the project is to guarantee the survival of the species in the Balearics.