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Speed restrictions and diving regulations introduced around El Toro, Malgrats and El Sec islands
The Balearic government has established a new marine reserve encompassing the waters around El Toro, Malgrats and El Sec islands off the southwest coast of Mallorca, introducing significant restrictions for visiting yachts and recreational users.
Decree 26/2025, effective immediately, replaces previous marine reserves in the area and creates three highly protected zones with strict navigation and activity limitations. The reserve extends from Cabo des Falcó to Morro d’en Grosser along Mallorca’s western coast.
Key Restrictions for Yachts
Speed Limits: Vessels transiting the highly protected zones around El Toro, Malgrats and El Sec islands must maintain speeds between 3 and 6 knots, except during emergencies involving human safety. This measure aims to reduce underwater noise pollution affecting marine biodiversity.
Jet Ski Ban: Personal watercraft are prohibited within all three highly protected zones.
Anchoring Restrictions: Recreational vessels cannot anchor within 150 metres of traditional fishing gear deployment points when nets are set.
Fishing and Diving Regulations
Recreational fishing from boats requires a specific three-year licence from the General Directorate of Fisheries. Trolling is limited to two surface lines and one bottom line per vessel, whilst competitions are banned throughout the reserve.
Diving activities remain permitted but must comply with existing marine reserve regulations. Group dives require advance notification up to three months ahead, and night diving is prohibited in the highly protected areas.
The new regulations also ban dynamic positioning systems during recreational fishing from boats, except for licensed charter vessels practicing catch-and-release fishing.
The reserve aims to balance conservation goals with fishing industry concerns, following previous reserves that lacked local fishing sector support.
Annex 2.
List of traditional setting points for stop gear within the Marine Reserve of the islands of Ponent de Mallorca, El Toro, Las Malgrats and El Sec
Geographical positions are presented in degrees and decimal minutes referred to the ETRS 89 geodetic system.
| Fishing point | Coord 1 N | Coord 1 E | Coord 2 N | Coord 2 E | Coord 3 N | Coord 3 E | Coord 4 N | Coord 4 E |
| Racó de s’Almadrava | 39º 29.852′ | 2º 27,051′ | ||||||
| Clot des Moro | 39º 28,468′ | 2º 28,889′ | ||||||
| Cova Fresca | 39º 27,636′ | 2º 31,455′ | 39º 27,702′ | 2º 31,511′ | 39º 27,789′ | 2nd 31,453′ | 39º 27,823′ | 2nd 31,349′ |
| The Cavall | 39º 27.901′ | 2º 31,529′ | 39º 27,985′ | 2º 31,579′ | 39º 28,182′ | 2º 31,492′ | ||
| Aixada cove cape | 39º 28,520′ | 2º 31,594′ | 39º 28,535′ | 2º 31.7440′ | 39º 28,645′ | 2nd 31,763′ | 39º 28,684′ | 2º 31,660′ |
Annex 3.
Regulatory conditions for collective recreational diving with autonomous scuba in the High Protection Zone of Toro Island
1.- Diving in the High Protection Zone of Toro Island may only be carried out at 6 specific points, with the following coordinates:
- – Point 1: Cala Rafalbeig (39º 27.126′ N / 2º 28.815′ E)
- – Point 2: To the east of Munt de Pedres (39º 27.904′ N / 2º 28.540′ E)
- – Point 3: Inner east of Toro Island (39º 27.747′ N / 2º 28.362′ E)
- – Point 4: Outer east of Toro Island (39º 27.707′ N / 2º 28.311′ E)
- – Point 5: Interior west of Toro Island (39º 27.750′ N / 2º 28.275′ E)
- – Point 6: Outer west of Toro Island (39º 27.770′ N / 2º 28.290′ E)
These points must be appropriately marked using techniques that have minimal impact on the benthic communities.
2.- The number of daily dives and the number of shifts will be regulated by an order from the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment. However, the maximum number of divers per point and visit will be 12, and there may never be more than 48 people diving simultaneously in the immediate vicinity of Toro Islet (buoys 3, 4, 5, and 6).
3.- Recreational diving is strictly prohibited in the northwest sector of this High Protection Zone, between Clot des Moro and Els Pans.
Annex 4.
Regulatory conditions for collective recreational scuba diving in the High Protection Zone of the Malgrats Islands
1.- Diving in the High Protection Zone of the Malgrats Islands may only be carried out at 4 specific points, with the following coordinates:
- – Point 1: Southeast coast of the island of Malgrat (39º 29.789′ N / 2º 27.043′ E)
- – Point 2: Southwest end of the island of Malgrat (39º 29.746′ N / 2º 26.834’E)
- – Point 3: West coast of the island of Malgrat (39º 29.925′ N / 2º 26.964′ E)
- – Point 4: Caló de l’Olla (39º 30.066′ N / 2º 27.202′ E)
These points must be appropriately marked using techniques that have minimal impact on the benthic communities.
2.- The number of daily dives and the number of shifts will be regulated by an order from the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment. However, the maximum number of divers per site and visit will be 12, and there may never be more than 48 people diving simultaneously in the High Protection Zone.
3.- On an ad hoc basis, and having previously notified the General Directorate of Fisheries, training activities (diving school) may be carried out in the Ses Pedretes cove.