Catalan Government Agriculture sets new cuttlefish closure this February to protect breeding females on the Costa Brava

ACN/Begur - The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food has set a new cuttlefish closure period that begins this Saturday and runs until February 28. The measure prohibits fishing for this species, both professional and recreational, by boat in the inland waters delimited by the Cape of Begur and the Maça d'Or island with the aim of protecting females during the breeding season. The new closure is in addition to the one that already takes place from September 1 to November 30 to protect juveniles. The Department notes that this is an action "widely requested" by the fishing sector in view of the decrease in abundance of the species in 2023.

In previous campaigns, a closure period had been established from September 1 to November 30, 2024 (both inclusive), in order to protect the juveniles during the recruitment period. From now on, instead of one, two closures will be made, in order to guarantee the good condition of this species.

The Cuttlefish Management Plan establishes closure periods of at least two months. However, due to the decrease in the abundance of cuttlefish in 2023, it has been considered necessary to extend the closure with the aim of preserving the resource and promoting responsible fishing practices.

The initiative, in fact, was agreed upon through the Cuttlefish Co-management Committee of the Pals and Roses Bays.