Several Catalan municipalities oppose the reintroduction of Mediterranean monk seals on the Catalan coast, announced by the Generalitat in August. They fear negative impacts on local fishing, thus threatening the economy and cultural heritage of the Costa Brava.
Their presence is definitely not welcome. Mediterranean monk seals were chosen last August by the Generalitat (the Catalan government) to be reintroduced on the Catalan coast, more precisely in Cadaqués and on the island of Cabrera, south of Mallorca (Balearic Islands).
Nevertheless, a new opponent spoke on this subject on Monday, October 26: the town hall of Port de la Selva. In a joint statement with the municipality’s fishing guild, it announced « that it cannot accept that a project of this magnitude is carried out without the consent of the territory and without taking into account the consequences it could have on the fishing sector, » reported Emporda. To support its remarks, the municipality wanted to recall that « an adult can consume up to 30 kg of fish per day, the equivalent of a week of trawler fishing ».
A direct competitor of fishing
Port de la Selva is described as « a fishing village » and « with a tourist vocation ».Thus, the disappearance of fishing could represent « an economic loss », but also « the disappearance of an essential part » of its identity and its « cultural heritage », insisted the town hall.
A few weeks ago, the municipality of Cadaqués had already affirmed its disagreement. In particular, she was afraid of a change in maritime traffic. But also the ban on access to the coves in which seals were to be reintroduced. According to her, this could lead to « serious economic repercussions for the fishing, boating, diving sectors ».
These specimens had disappeared from the Catalan coasts in the early 1970s because of fishermen who « saw him as a direct competitor », but also with « accidental captures » and « the transformation of the coastline under tourist pressure », had listed the Diari of Girona.
