The population control plan for rabbits promoted by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing, and Food of the Generalitat in the Plana de Lleida has recorded 226,472 captures during its first year of operation, a figure that, according to the department, reflects "a change in trend in the reduction of damages."
This is an action designed to contain the overabundance of this species and mitigate the increase in the damages it causes to agricultural operations, as detailed by the Generalitat in a statement released this Friday.
Since the implementation of the device, in mid-June and up to the present, 1,719 actions promoted by agricultural holders have been carried out, 636 interventions from private hunting areas, and 232 direct actions carried out with the resources of the Department.
The program is developed in a territory that encompasses 147 municipalities spread across six counties of the Plana de Lleida, with an area exceeding 5,200 square kilometers and the collaboration of different hunting areas.
The Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Government "to continue implementing hunting management measures and to increase them, if necessary."
"We have promoted the measures that the sector has requested from us, with the aim of reducing the overabundance that wreaks havoc on agriculture," he added.
Lines of aid for the agricultural sector
In parallel, the Department launched in 2025 a set of specific lines of aid to alleviate the economic impact of the damages caused to the agricultural sector, reinforcing prevention and defense actions, which have been very well received among the holders of operations.
Requests aimed at covering the cost of installing protection systems have reached 146 beneficiaries, who have received a total of 1.02 million euros.