The fisheries surveillance service has dedicated its efforts to inspection and informing and educating users.

The Directorate General of Fisheries of the Government of the Balearic Islands, in collaboration with the Department of Rural and Marine Affairs of the Island Council of Eivissa, has issued two inspection reports this year for finding recreational fishermen in possession of octopus weighing less than one kilogramme, a circumstance that can lead to a serious offence.

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Fisheries inspectors intervene on recreational fishermen with octopus

Likewise, in 2023, a sanctioning file was initiated against a fisherman with a specimen weighing less than one kilogramme during the closed period and another for fishing octopus without having the necessary recreational fishing licence.

The Department has also stated that the fisheries surveillance service has dedicated and is dedicating a lot of effort, apart from the inspections, to informing users and teaching them about the permitted fishing practices and those that are not.

The closed period and the minimum weight for octopus catch in Ibiza

The entry into force of Decree 31/2021 of 31 May, which regulates professional and recreational shellfishing in the Balearic Islands, establishes a minimum size for octopus caught by recreational fishing of one kilogramme and a maximum of 3 octopus per person per day. Likewise, octopus on the islands of Ibiza and Formentera has a closed period from 15 July to 15 October at depths of between 0 and 50 metres. To catch octopus outside the closed period, you must own a recreational fishing licence, whether individual, boat or underwater. For recreational fishing, owning specimens of less than one kilogramme in size, exceeding 3 octopus per person per day or fishing for octopus during the closed period is a serious offence with penalties ranging from 151 to 30,000 euros for recreational fishing.

Professional artisanal fishing in vessels dedicated to shellfishing, this is regulated by Decree 31/2021 of 31 May, and has the same regulations regarding the minimum size of 1 kg. Trawling, on the other hand, as it is carried out at depths of more than 50 metres, does not have the minimum weight restriction of 1 kg. Failure to comply with these regulations is considered a serious offence with penalties ranging from 151 to 60,000 euros.