© seemallorca
Calls to expand Mallorca's Cabrera National Park
Environmental group Oceana want to ensure protection of the delicate ecosystems
Oceana, a non-profit ocean conservation organisation, have allocated grants to campaign to have the Maritime- Terrestrial National Park surrounding the Cabrera Islands extended. They seek support from the Government in Spain and Mallorca and they also want the inclusion of the area within the EU framework of protected areas.
Marine scientists have said that the Government performed an internal report in 2010 regarding the expansion of the National Park but kept it hidden for three years. The report allegedly advised to expand the protected area but its recommendations have not yet been made public. Researchers from Oceana have requested this information for many years but had not received it.
The Balearics are home to many underwater ecosystems including an important spawning ground for Bluefin Tuna. Other species endemic to this area are rare carnivorous sponges, long-finned pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins and corals.
Cabrera National Park is a popular boat trip destination beyond the south east coast of Mallorca and is made up of 19 small islands with an area of 1,318 hectares on land, as well as a maritime area of 8,703 hectares. The Park is crucial for migratory and sea birds including the Balearic shearwater, Audouin's gull, Cory's shearwater, shag, osprey, Eleonora's falcon and the peregrine falcon. In total, over 130 species of migratory birds use the National Park over the course of the year.
