The raor fishing season in the Balearic Islands begins this Tuesday, 1 September, and will run until 31 March 2027. Anglers may catch a maximum of 50 fish per person per day, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment.

The season will open on the same date along the entire coastline of the islands, including marine reserves. The only exception is the Highly Protected Area of the Illes Malgrats, where fishing will not be permitted until 1 October.

Raor population recovers after more than two decades of closed seasons

The new season begins with the raor (Xyrichtys novacula) population recovered after more than two decades of closed seasons during its reproductive period. The latest figures show a significant increase in the size of the fish: their average weight reached 70 grams in 2025, compared with 26 grams in 1999.

The Directorate-General for Fisheries has monitored populations of this species in the Balearic Islands since 1994, particularly in Mallorca. In 1999, it detected overfishing and a gradual reduction in the size of the fish. As a result, a closed season was introduced in 2000, which now runs from 1 April to 31 August.

According to studies carried out by the Marine Research and Aquaculture Laboratory (LIMIA) and the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), the measure has helped to increase both the abundance and size of raor.

In 2025, the fish analysed directly by the Balearic Government in Mallorca had an average length of 168 millimetres, 35% greater than the 124 millimetres recorded in 1999. Since 2013, the average size has consistently remained above the level recorded in 1994.

Results similar to last year’s raor fishing season in the Balearic Islands

The Balearic Government expects results similar to those of last year. The current average size is already close to the maximum that can be reached by a population subject to fishing pressure. Figures close to 180 millimetres are only recorded in areas where fishing is prohibited.

“Today we have larger fish and a recovered population, and the aim is to maintain this situation”, said Joan Simonet, Regional Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment.

Limits and fines during the raor fishing season in the Balearic Islands

With the start of the raor fishing season in the Balearic Islands, the Balearic Government will step up inspections in the main areas where this type of fishing takes place. Breaching the closed season is considered a serious offence and can result in a minimum fine of €151 per fish, which may increase depending on the circumstances.

In marine reserves, catches must also be recorded and reported to the Marine Resources Service. This can be done through the “Diari de Pesca” app and, in state marine reserves, through “PescaREC”.

Since 2019, around 6,600 catch declarations have been collected. These records identify raor as the species most frequently caught by recreational boat anglers in the Balearic Islands by number of fish. In terms of weight, it accounts for 15.7% of annual catches.