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The Partit Popular has presented an initiative in the Balearic Parliament to allow hunting on islets, ravines and inland cliffs. The proposal amends the Menorca Biosphere Reserve Law and removes the existing ban on hunting in these areas.
GOB Menorca wishes to express its rejection of this amendment, put forward by the Menorcan MP Jordi López, because these areas are considered to be of the highest environmental value. Three out of every four hectares of Menorca are already designated as hunting grounds.
Article 25 of Law 3/2023 on the Menorca Biosphere Reserve prohibits, due to their location, the practice of hunting activities of any kind on islets, coastal cliffs, wetlands, dune systems and other assets of the maritime-terrestrial public domain, inland cliffs, ravine bottoms and within protected elements listed as historical heritage.
The amendment now being proposed is presented in the form of an addition to Decree Law 8/2025 on urgent measures to accelerate strategic projects that contribute to the economic transformation of the Balearic Islands. Its content implies that the regulation of these areas would be left to the Hunting Law, which only establishes safety zones in the hydraulic and coastal public domain and in reservoirs, but not in the remaining areas.
The Balearic Natural Areas Law defines, among others, adjacent coastal land with a minimum depth of 100 metres, dune systems, islets, wetlands, peaks, ravines, cliffs and the most significant rocky outcrops as Natural Areas with the highest level of protection.
The amendment is not accompanied by any justification. GOB considers that an initiative of this kind, which can only pose a danger to environmental values and to people present in the area, should clearly respond to an evident general interest, something that does not appear to be the case.
It should be recalled that three quarters of the island are declared hunting grounds, which clearly shows that there is no lack of space for hunting activities. Modifying a law specific to Menorca, to the detriment of the few valuable natural spaces that are not under hunting pressure, without providing any explanation, is unacceptable.