The share of anchoring on seagrass meadows drops to 6.4% across the Balearic Islands.
The region strengthens its Mediterranean leadership in marine conservation through the use of advanced geolocation and mapping technologies.
The Posidonia Surveillance Service, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, has completed the 2025 season with 181,468 operations, marking a 40% increase compared to 2024 (129,497).
The fleet —consisting of 18 boats plus an additional unit from the Island Council of Menorca— carried out 156,043 anchoring inspections. Of these, 10,062 vessels were relocated after anchoring over seagrass meadows or in risk areas. This brings the percentage of anchoring on seagrass to 6.4%, slightly below 2024’s 6.8%, confirming a continued downward trend.
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Posidonia Surveillance Service Ends the Season with Over 181,000 Operations, a 40% Increase Compared to 2024
The service also provided information to 9,120 skippers and crews, and advised 6,243 vessels before anchoring, helping reduce environmental impacts.
By island:
- Mallorca: 72,605 operations (7% over seagrass)
- Menorca: 23,467 (5%)
- Eivissa: 23,996 (21%)
- Formentera: 61,400 (2%)
The highest-pressure areas were found in Eivissa —notably Porroig, Talamanca, and Sant Antoni Bay— due to intense summer traffic. Other key areas include Calvià, Andratx, and Alcanada in Mallorca, Illa de l’Aire and Fornells in Menorca, and Ses Illetes in Formentera.
The Minister, Joan Simonet, stated:
“Although the data confirms a downward trend in anchoring over seagrass, much work remains. Our goal is to further reduce the percentage through more efficient management and faster responses. The Balearic Islands aim to remain a Mediterranean benchmark in sustainable anchoring management.”
For 2026, the Government of the Balearic Islands, through PortsIB, will establish three new ecological buoy fields in Porroig and Cala d’Hort (Ibiza), and in Illa de l’Aire (Menorca), to protect high-pressure nautical zones.
Simonet also emphasised “the growing adoption of anchoring and mapping applications such as Projecte Posidonia, Posidonia Maps, and Donia, showing a positive change in sailors’ environmental awareness.”
Strengthened Control and Institutional Cooperation
The Environmental Agents (AMA) have expanded their participation, assisting patrol boats and reinforcing the service’s presence at sea. A total of 48 infringement reports were issued for anchoring on seagrass —five more than in 2024.
Joint operations were conducted with the Civil Guard, the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition (MITECO), and local island councils, as well as marine reserves and coastal municipalities.
Innovation and Mediterranean Collaboration
Funded by the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) through NextGenerationEU, the service continued to enhance its technological capabilities, integrating Automatic Identification System (AIS) devices in partnership with SOCIB, improving monitoring and rapid response.
The Posidonia Hotline and Coordination Centre again served as vital communication channels between authorities and sailors.
The service also strengthened ties through the Mediterranean Posidonia Network, exchanging best practices with other Mediterranean countries.
It collaborated with COFIB to control invasive snakes on islets and with the Palma Aquarium Marine Rescue Centre to assist stranded animals and remove hazardous materials from coastal areas.