RCD Mallorca president Andy Kohlberg unveiled the initiative and announced his commitment to supporting its development, while the club’s corporate CEO, Alfonso Díaz, set out its main lines of action. The event was closed by the president of the Govern de les Illes Balears, Marga Prohens.
RCD Mallorca and the Fundació Reial Mallorca presented La Nostra Mar on 2 September at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix: an initiative to contribute to the protection and conservation of the Mediterranean.
The Balearic Sea will be the project’s starting point. It will initially focus on four areas considered strategic for their importance to biodiversity and their capacity to generate knowledge and drive conservation: marine forests, with particular attention to Posidonia meadows; endangered species, especially sharks and rays; structural habitats such as corals; and marine reserves.
Under the title “An extraordinary sea. The wealth, the beauty and the natural heritage of the Balearic Islands”, the panel brought together the Director General for the Natural Environment and Forest Management of the Govern de les Illes Balears, Ana Torres; marine biologist and vice-president of Save the Med, Biel Morey; the president of Shark Med, Agustí Torres; and the scientific coordinator of Arrels Marines, Gigi Torras.
During the conversation, the four experts shared different perspectives on the biodiversity of the Balearic Sea — from sharks, rays and other marine species to gorgonians, corals and Posidonia meadows — and highlighted the work being carried out to study, research and preserve these ecosystems.
The panel also reflected on the importance of knowing and valuing the natural heritage of the Mediterranean, and on the need to keep generating knowledge and awareness in order to safeguard it for the generations to come.
A platform for collaboration and action
La Nostra Mar is conceived as a platform open to collaboration and to real action, seeking to generate knowledge, involve society and drive concrete measures for the conservation of the Mediterranean.
The initiative will be developed in a spirit of collaboration with everyone connected to the sea.
In this context, Díaz stressed the importance of working alongside public administrations, the scientific community, environmental organisations, local communities and, especially, the fishing sector, whose knowledge, experience and relationship with the sea are essential to move towards effective and sustainable conservation.
“We don’t want to impose a vision. We want to listen, collaborate and build together,” said Díaz.
Guardianes del Mar
The initiative also includes Guardianes del Mar, a programme designed to make it easier for individuals, companies and organisations to take part in protecting the Mediterranean.
Through this programme, La Nostra Mar aims to build a community committed to the sea, able to pool resources, knowledge and willingness to collaborate in order to drive actions with real, measurable impact.
La Nostra Mar will begin its journey in the Balearic Sea, with the aspiration that the knowledge and experience generated can serve as inspiration and extend to other parts of the Mediterranean.
“Our goal is not only to protect today’s Mediterranean. We want to leave a better Mediterranean for tomorrow,” Díaz added.
The event closed with an address by the president of the Govern de les Illes Balears, Marga Prohens, followed by a networking reception.
La Nostra Mar. Un sol equip pel Mediterrani.