The Balearic Government reorganizes fishermen's guilds with a decree

The Governing Council of the Balearic Islands has approved Decree 30/2026, of August 28, regulating fishermen’s guilds and their federations in the Balearic Islands, published in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB) no. 109, of September 1, 2026 (reference 8760, Section I, page 47203). The regulation replaces Decree 61/1995, of June 2, which had become obsolete due to technological and administrative changes, and enters into force the day after its publication.

The decree, signed by President Margarita Prohens Rigo and the Councilor for Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, Joan Simonet Pons, is based on the autonomous competence regarding the organization of the fishing sector (article 31 of the Statute of Autonomy) and Law 6/2013, of November 7, on sea fishing, shellfish gathering and aquaculture. The objective is to modernize the structure of the sixteen guilds of the Balearic Islands and their federation to make them more agile, solvent, and competitive.

A new governance architecture

The regulation redefines the guilds as non-profit public law corporations that act as consultative and collaborative bodies for the administrations, and reinforces their role in the co-governance of fisheries. The guilds actively participate in management plans, marine reserves, and other fisheries management frameworks.

• The Balearic Federation of Fishermen’s Guilds, of autonomous scope, in which all guilds are integrated, is maintained.
• The creation of insular federations of guilds is permitted, if agreed upon by the entities.
• The mandate of the governing bodies is four years, with the possibility of reelection.
• Guilds may sign agreements and associations among themselves to pool services.

Internal, economic, and sanctioning regime

The decree details the internal functioning of the guilds, from the membership census to the economic and accounting regime. The statutes must regulate the disciplinary regime, with infractions classified as minor, serious, and very serious, and sanctions proportionate to the gravity of the act.

• Guilds must maintain a membership census and present annual accounts to the General Directorate of Fisheries.
• They may accumulate a maximum deficit of 20% of the annual budget, with a limit of three years to return to equilibrium.
• Guilds that perform the first sale must deduct a minimum of 1% of the value of the fish sold to return it to the vessel’s guild.
• A deadline of six months is established for guilds and federations to adapt to the new regulation.

Modifications of three previous decrees

Decree 30/2026 also modifies three sectoral regulations: Decree 55/2022, of December 19, on professional, extractive, scientific, and public service diving; Decree 14/2014, of March 14, on recreational diving; and Decree 26/2025, of July 4, which regulates the Marine Reserve of the Illes del Ponent de Mallorca, el Toro, les Malgrats, and el Sec. In the latter case, the maximum number of divers per point and visit is adjusted.

The new regulation represents a step forward for a key sector of the Balearic economy by providing the guilds with an updated legal framework that reinforces their autonomy, accounting transparency, and internal democracy, while consolidating their role as the primary interlocutor for the Administration in the sustainable management of marine resources.

Source: Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB), no. 109, September 1, 2026, Section I, p. 47203 (official reference: Decree 30/2026, of August 28).