Balearic Islands remove more than seven tonnes of waste from the sea and coastline in July

Plastics accounted for 48.23% of the waste collected, followed by wood, which represented 32.91% of the total.

The Balearic Islands Government’s coastal cleaning service, coordinated by the public company PortsIB, under the Ministry of the Sea and Water Cycle, removed a total of 7,170.60 kilograms of waste from the sea and coastline of the Balearic Islands during July. The operation consists of 23 vessels, 15 beach-cleaning boats and 8 coastal vessels, which kept the service operational throughout the month.

By island, Mallorca accounted for the largest volume of waste removed, with 3,452.70 kilograms, followed by Menorca, with 1,887 kilograms; Eivissa, with 1,442.45 kilograms; and Formentera, with 388.45 kilograms. Overall, the average amount of waste removed per day during the month was 231.31 kilograms.

As for the two types of vessels operating as part of the service, the beach-cleaning vessels collected a total of 3,656.70 kilograms, while the coastal vessels removed 3,513.90 kilograms. The volume collected was therefore evenly distributed between the two services.

Plastics were once again the main type of waste removed during July, accounting for 48.23% of the total. Wood represented 32.91%, while other types of waste accounted for 9.73%. Vegetation represented 6.51% and organic matter 2.62%.

July was characterised by high temperatures, good weather and thermal winds. Sea conditions were predominantly slight, with an average wave height of 0.5 metres. However, two days of rough seas were recorded in Mallorca and four in Menorca. Swell episodes with wave heights of between 1 and 3 metres were also recorded at various times during the month, particularly in Mallorca and Menorca.

Among the special operations carried out in July, a chair, an engine and several logs were removed in Mallorca, and assistance was provided to three drifting vessels. In Menorca, three logs, a piece of a vessel and a significant concentration of plastic waste were removed. In Eivissa, the service removed a pallet, a large buoy and several pieces of wood, while in Formentera assistance was provided to a drifting vessel and logs were removed.

The service also detected an increase in the presence of jellyfish in bathing areas during July, with 10 kilograms of different species collected. No Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis) specimens were detected or collected in the Balearic Islands.

Finally, a total of 9 alerts were received and dealt with during July. Of these, 5 were managed in coordination with the 112 emergency service and Maritime Rescue, while the remaining 4 came from institutions and private individuals.

The coastal cleaning campaign, coordinated by PortsIB, will remain operational until 30 September, with the aim of contributing to the conservation of the marine environment and keeping the waters and bathing areas of the Balearic Islands in the best possible condition.