By Maria Elena De Matteo
Based on a transcribed interview with Ponç Feliu, Director of the Natural Park of Cap de Creus

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On the rugged tip of northeastern Catalonia, the Cap de Creus Natural Park covers land and sea in equal beauty: a jagged peninsula of cliffs, coves, and crystalline water that has long drawn visitors, fishermen, and artists alike.

But Ponç Feliu, who directs the park, knows that beauty alone isn’t enough to preserve an ecosystem under pressure. That’s why 2024 marked a crucial turning point: a bold new management plan to reshape the way the park is protected — and shared.

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From 20 to 700 Hectares of No-Take Zones

For years, Cap de Creus was governed by a 1998 law. It offered basic protection, but few tools for active management. “We monitored marine habitats, educated visitors, and enforced the rules we had,” says Ponç. “But the reality has changed — and our tools need to change too.”

That change is coming in the form of a new PRUG, a comprehensive use and management plan. Among the most significant updates:
• Expanding no-fishing zones from 20 hectares to approximately 700 hectares
• Fully banning both professional and recreational fishing in strict reserves
• Tightening regulations on diving, boating, and tourism activities

It’s one of the most ambitious shifts in Spanish marine protection in recent years.

Adapting to a Changing Sea

Like many other Mediterranean MPAs, Cap de Creus faces a double challenge: surging human pressure and the global impacts of climate change.

“After COVID-19, tourism exploded,” says Ponç. “We’re seeing far more boats, divers, swimmers, and kayaks. It puts pressure on everything.” Meanwhile, rising ocean temperatures are altering species dynamics and accelerating biodiversity loss.

While climate change demands global action, the park is doing what it can at the local level — and the new plan will help regulate activities more effectively, without banning them outright.

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From Resistance to Recognition

When the MPA was first introduced, local reactions were mixed. Some saw opportunity; others feared loss, especially fishermen facing new restrictions.

But over time, attitudes shifted: fisherfolk realised that protecting the sea could actually support the long-term sustainability of their work. Tourism operators saw new opportunities in scuba diving and boat excursions: today, 14 dive companies operate in the park, compared to just two in the 1990s.

“It wasn’t easy,” Ponç admits. “But people began to see the benefits.”

That’s why, even though the new PRUG is again meeting some resistance, he’s optimistic. “We’ve seen this before. At first, no one wants change. But when the results come — clearer rules, healthier waters, more opportunities — they understand.”

Tourism That Pays It Forward

Cap de Creus’s growing reputation as a marine paradise is already boosting the local economy. Sea cruises, one-day boat trips, guided dives; all of these businesses are thriving because the park is known for its rich biodiversity and unique marine landscapes.

And unlike mass tourism hotspots, the goal here is balance. The new plan will introduce quotas, authorisations, and more robust rules — not to block activity, but to make it sustainable.

“If we protect the resource, the resource gives back,” Ponç says. “It’s that simple.”

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