The operation will begin on May 1st with more coastal and beach-type units, a second boat in Eivissa Vila, reinforcements in Alcúdia Bay, and a new vessel in Fornells.

On May 1, the coastal cleaning campaign for the Balearic Islands will kick off for the 2025 season, running until September 30. Juan Manuel Lafuente, the Minister of the Sea and Water Cycle of the Government of the Balearic Islands, presented the operation today at the Real Club Náutico of Palma, accompanied by Antoni Mercant, Director General of Ports and Maritime Transport, and Kiko Villalonga, Manager of PortsIB.

This year, the operation will be reinforced with a total of 23 vessels, two more than in 2024, with an increase in coastal-type units, from 7 to 8 boats. These vessels are capable of covering longer routes, collecting a greater volume of waste, and operating more efficiently under adverse conditions. This improvement will intensify marine pollution prevention and ensure the cleaning of areas farther from the shore, complementing the work of beach-type vessels, which will increase from 14 to 15 units. These are designed to operate in coves and shallow coastal areas.

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The Government Launches the Coastal Cleaning Campaign with 23 Vessels, Two More than in 2024

This year’s deployment is organised as follows:

• Mallorca will have 11 vessels (8 beach-type and 3 coastal-type), with reinforcement from a new beach unit in Can Picafort and the replacement of a beach vessel with a coastal one in Alcúdia to provide better coverage of the bay.
• Menorca will have 5 units (3 beach and 2 coastal). The main improvement is the relocation of the coastal vessel from Ciutadella to Fornells to enhance coverage there.
• Eivissa will have 5 vessels (3 beach and 2 coastal), with the addition of a second coastal unit based in Vila.
• Formentera will maintain 2 vessels, one of each type, based in La Savina.

In total, the operation will include 15 beach-type and 8 coastal-type vessels — a figure not reached in recent years.
Beach-type boats are designed to work close to the shore, in shallow waters like coves and beaches. Their manoeuvrability and design make them particularly useful for collecting small floating debris within a 20- to 300-meter distance from the shore. These vessels complete daily routes of between 18 and 20 nautical miles.

Meanwhile, coastal-type vessels can operate between 1 and 5 miles from the coast and, if necessary, in coves with depths of up to 2 meters. Measuring over 10 meters in length, they can store more than 4 cubic meters of waste, collect larger debris, and withstand harsher sea conditions. Additionally, since they are crewed by two people — a skipper and a sailor — they also help create more seasonal employment.

Commitment to the Protection of the Balearic Sea

During the presentation, Minister Juan Manuel Lafuente highlighted that “the maritime cleaning campaign is a fundamental tool for preserving the biodiversity of the Balearic coastline, the quality of the water, and reinforcing the image of our beaches as a sustainable tourist destination.” He also emphasized that “it is essential to continue strengthening both prevention and response capacity.”