Government to consider providing lifeguarding and buoyage equipment to coastal municipalities

The Balearic Government will consider the possibility of supplying lifeguarding and buoyage equipment to coastal municipalities that request it.

The Minister of the Presidency, Government Coordination and Local Cooperation, Antònia Maria Estarellas, made the commitment during a plenary session while reporting on the implementation of a non-binding motion (NBM) concerning lifeguard services and beach buoyage.

The initiative, proposed by Més per Mallorca, called on the Government to provide both financial and technical support to municipalities to ensure beach safety.

It also requested, among other measures, the approval of a multi-year plan to fund these resources, as well as the transfer of sufficient funds to coastal municipalities to cover lifeguarding, rescue and buoyage costs for 2024.

Més per Menorca MP Joana Gomila criticised the lack of progress, stating that “not a single euro has reached any municipality” to address the issue, and urged the Government to implement the initiative, noting that it was approved 20 months ago.

She explained that municipalities in Menorca face particular challenges in meeting safety requirements, as their smaller beaches often require a higher number of lifeguards.

“This is an issue we have always raised, regardless of political affiliation,” Gomila said, stressing that ensuring beach safety requires regional government support.

The minister acknowledged the difficulties faced by municipalities in meeting beach safety requirements but said neither mayors nor the Federation of Local Entities of the Balearic Islands (Felib) had formally raised these concerns with her.

She also highlighted a structural shortage of lifeguards, which the Government aims to address through a new decree, currently in the public consultation phase, to update and regulate training and certification systems.

In addition, she noted that the emergency services have implemented an inspection plan introducing uniform criteria to avoid discretionary enforcement of beach regulations, and stated that the Government has strengthened safety measures.