The regional authority responsible for the Sea and Water Cycle of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Juan Manuel Lafuente, has called on the Spanish Government to allocate part of the revenue generated in the archipelago from maritime-coastal concessions to urgent improvement projects along the Balearic coastline ahead of the upcoming tourist season.
The proposal was presented during the Second National Coastal Summit, held in Valencia, a working meeting bringing together Spain’s coastal regions to discuss the main challenges affecting shoreline management and to strengthen institutional cooperation. The event was also attended by the Director General for Coasts and the Coastal Environment of the Balearic Government, Xima Ferrer.
During the summit, Lafuente highlighted that the Spanish State collects more than €12 million annually in the Balearic Islands through fees linked to the occupation and use of the maritime-terrestrial public domain. These revenues originate from concessions associated with coastal services such as beach kiosks, piers and other facilities connected to seaside activities. According to the regional government, these funds are not currently reflected in proportional investment aimed at maintaining and protecting the islands’ coastline.
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In response, the Balearic Government has proposed launching an urgent action plan in collaboration with local municipalities to address priority needs along the coast before the start of the high tourism season. The initiative aims to improve coastal infrastructure, environmental conditions and access to the sea in several areas of the archipelago.
Beyond these immediate measures, the regional authorities have also advocated for a medium-term investment strategy agreed with the national government to ensure long-term conservation of the Balearic coastline. Planned initiatives include improving sea access points and ramps, restoring and regenerating beaches, cleaning marine seabeds, removing illegal moorings and reinforcing cliffs and other vulnerable coastal areas.
The summit also provided a forum to discuss coastal governance and national regulatory frameworks, including potential changes to coastal management regulations. Participating regions emphasized the importance of stronger coordination between administrations and improved investment planning to help coastal territories adapt to the growing impact of climate change.