‘La Balear’ hosts ten educational excursions to raise awareness of marine biodiversity

For the third consecutive year, the Regional Ministry has organised educational excursions aimed at introducing participants to the marine biodiversity, Posidonia seagrass and seafaring heritage of the Balearic Islands, while raising awareness of the importance of protecting the natural environment.

This July, for the third consecutive year, the Government’s Directorate-General for Natural Environment and Forest Management, through the Aula de la Mar marine education centre, organised a series of environmental education workshops aboard La Balear, a traditional lateen-sail llaüt now dedicated to preserving and promoting Mallorca’s maritime heritage. The initiative’s main objective is to bring the marine environment closer to the public and encourage awareness of the need to protect the natural environment and marine biodiversity of the Balearic Islands.

The activity took place between the 20th and the 31st July, in collaboration with the Council of Mallorca, which owns the vessel. It consisted of ten educational excursions lasting between three and four hours around the Bay of Palma, led by the Aula de la Mar’s education staff and the crew of La Balear. Today, Friday 31st of July, the Director-General for Natural Environment and Forest Management, Anna Torres, took part in the final excursion to see first-hand how the initiative was carried out and to share the experience with the participants.

During the excursions, participants were able to discover the richness of the marine environment through practical and educational activities focusing on plankton and the marine biodiversity found along the coasts of the Balearic Islands. They also studied parameters such as water temperature, salinity and transparency. The sessions placed particular emphasis on the ecological importance of Posidonia seagrass meadows and on promoting awareness of the Balearic Islands’ seafaring heritage, especially that of the Port of Palma.

This year’s programme was once again very well received. Registrations exceeded expectations, and nearly one hundred people ultimately took part, the maximum number permitted by the vessel’s capacity.

Torres highlighted the value of initiatives of this kind in bringing the marine environment closer to the public and promoting greater knowledge and conservation of natural heritage: “Environmental education is an essential tool for understanding, appreciating and preserving our natural heritage. These excursions provide an opportunity to experience first-hand the richness of the Balearic Islands’ marine ecosystems and to understand the importance of conserving them for future generations,” she said.

The Director-General also highlighted the strong participation in the programme’s third edition, stating that “the public’s excellent response demonstrates a growing interest in learning about our marine environment and encourages us to continue promoting initiatives that combine scientific outreach, seafaring heritage and environmental education.”

Throughout the rest of the year, the Aula de la Mar team continues its work interpreting the marine environment at the Sa Petrolera building in Palma. There, students and teachers from across the Balearic Islands, as well as the general public, have access to a range of interpretive resources and scheduled activities designed to improve their understanding of the natural environment.