The initiative, promoted in Ibiza and Formentera by IbizaPreservation, held a workshop in Menorca last weekend, with the participation of the Ibiza fishing guilds
Ibiza, 12-03-24 – The Calant Xarxes alliance, a Balearic-wide initiative focused on uniting the fishing sector to promote sustainability, held its first workshop last Saturday. The workshop aimed to identify initiatives to enhance the traceability and commercialisation of seafood products across the four islands.
Held in Menorca, the event was themed “Development of Collective Brands for Balearic Seafood Products.” It provided a platform for fishermen and women to share experiences and gain firsthand insights into best practices currently being implemented throughout the archipelago.
Marga Serra, secretary of the Ibiza Fishing Guild, participated, sharing with attendees the main challenges and advantages in developing “Peix Nostrum,” the brand used to identify fish caught and sold by the artisanal fleet of Ibiza’s two fishing guilds, Eivissa and Sant Antoni.
According to Serra, “The collective brand helps to add value and differentiate the local product. Individual identification not only guarantees traceability, but can also be seen as a quality mark. In our case, it includes the ‘Flavours of Ibiza’ seal from the Consell of Ibiza, which boosts demand for the identified product.”
Marcial Caracena, commercial director of OPMallorcaMar, also addressed the meeting, explaining the development of the Mallorcan brand, outlining the certification requirements for both restaurants and fishing boats in Mallorca. Caracena emphasised, “This brand has helped to highlight the fish caught by Mallorcan boats, ensuring responsible and traceable fishing right to the end consumer. Thanks to our collaboration with the Calant Xarxes alliance, we’ve developed a joint action plan to bring together all the actors—boats, fishmongers, restaurants, and others—in a project capable of showcasing the offer of sustainable, traceable, locally sourced seafood.”
The event was attended by Domingo Bonnin, President of the Balearic Federation of Fishing Guilds, and Xavi Marqués, vice-president of the same Federation and chief patron of the Ciutadella guild. They invited fishermen and secretaries from the Maó, Fornells, and Ciutadella guilds, highlighting that, “It’s worth getting this initiative underway to raise awareness of local products and differentiate them from those coming from outside, for both final consumers and restaurants.”
Elisa Martínez, coordinator of the Calant Xarxes alliance, introduced the alliance’s members, objectives, and the project’s action lines. She highlighted that, “This workshop, the first organised by Calant Xarxes, provided a valuable space for participants to connect, identify needs, share experiences, and explore ways of collaborating to enhance the sustainability and commercialisation of Balearic seafood products.”
Martínez also stressed the importance of collective labels, certifications, traceability systems, and other methods to differentiate sustainable fishery products. She stated, “These tools can add considerable value to their commercialisation in hotels and restaurants, especially given the increasing number of conscious consumers who demand quality, traceable, and environmentally friendly products.”
Calant Xarxes is a coalition of organisations, including IbizaPreservation, Menorca Preservation, Mallorca Preservation, Conservation Collective, Blue Marine Foundation, and the Marilles Foundation. This alliance aims to collaborate with fisherfolk and various stakeholders along the value chain to promote the conservation of the Balearic Sea. Their mission focuses on ensuring the responsible supply of traceable Balearic seafood, enhancing fisheries management, and eradicating illegal fishing to improve sustainability across the Balearic Islands.
