Councillor Lafuente urges the Ministry to implement measures to strengthen control of boat rentals and raises the need for new state regulations to strictly regulate nautical activities.
The Councillor for the Sea and Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, met this afternoon in Madrid, at the headquarters of the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy, with the Director General of the Merchant Navy, Gustavo Santana, to convey the Government’s growing concern about maritime safety and request the implementation of new state regulations that regulate more rigorously nautical activities in the archipelago. During the meeting, which was also attended by the Director General of Ports and Maritime Transport, Antoni Mercant, and the manager of PortsIB, Kiko Villalonga, various proposals were put forward to guarantee safety in navigation and combat illegal practices in the nautical sector.
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The Government calls in Madrid for more maritime safety and greater control of nautical activities in the Balearics
Among the main demands, the councillor stressed the urgent need to regulate the rental of unlicensed boats, a practice that has grown alarmingly on the islands and poses significant risks to both sailors and the environment. As he explained, the increase in nautical activity has been accompanied by incidents and conflicts in the areas of the islands’ marinas.
The Councillor stressed the urgent need to regulate the rental of unlicensed boats, a practice which has grown alarmingly on the islands and which poses significant risks for both sailors and the environment. As he explained, the increase in nautical activity has been accompanied by incidents and conflicts in the areas of greatest affluence, especially in summer, and there is an urgent need for regulations that establish stricter controls to prevent this activity from being carried out without guarantees of safety.
The Government has expressed its intention to collaborate with the state authorities to implement control mechanisms to eradicate these activities and ensure that yacht charters on the islands are carried out legally and safely. According to the councillor, ‘it is essential that this activity complies with the regulations and is carried out with the maximum guarantees for all those involved’.
The councillor also stressed the importance of reviewing and reinforcing the regulations on nautical qualifications. Given the increase in demand for licences in the Balearic Islands, the Government considers it essential that sailors have the appropriate training and the necessary skills to operate in the waters of the archipelago without endangering the safety of other users of the sea.
Another issue raised by the government was the need to expand maritime rescue services on Formentera, an island particularly exposed to risky situations due to the large influx of recreational and commercial vessels, especially in high season. These resources would enable a rapid and effective response in the event of emergencies, especially in sensitive areas such as the Ses Salines Natural Park, which is the scene of intense maritime activity. The Govern has also raised the problem of the maritime connection between Ibiza and Formentera early and late in the day, an issue that affects both residents and workers who depend on this route for their daily commute.
As for safety measures along the coast, Lafuente announced that the government will include a 10-knot speed limit for boats over 12 metres in length when they sail less than a mile from the coast in the future Coastal and Coastal Planning Act. This measure, he explained, responds to the problems of saturation and the risks of accidents that occur in summer in some areas of the Balearic coast.
Finally, the need to establish periodic dredging plans in the ports of the Balearic Islands to prevent the accumulation of sediment and guarantee the operability of port infrastructures was recalled. The Minister asked the Ministry to designate specific areas for controlled dumping on each island to minimise the environmental impact of these operations.
At the end of the meeting, the councillor expressed his satisfaction with the Ministry’s willingness to collaborate on these priority issues for the Govern. ‘Safety in our waters and the regulation of nautical activities are essential to protect both our citizens and visitors, as well as contributing to the preservation of the marine environment,’ he said.