Menorca strengthens maritime surveillance with four new operational vessels

The Minister for the Sea and Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, presented the four vessels currently operating in Menorca as part of the coastal surveillance, inspection, and control service, as well as port support operations managed by Ports de les Illes Balears (PortsIB). The presentation took place yesterday, Wednesday, June 17th, at the Port of Fornells, where the service is now fully operational for the 2025 season.

Also attending the event were the President of the Island Council of Menorca, Adolfo Vilafranca; Island Councillor Simón Gornés; and Es Mercadal Town Council representatives Carlos Rotger and Tòbal Pons.

The four vessels assigned to Menorca form part of a fleet of 22 units deployed by the Government of the Balearic Islands to strengthen coastal surveillance, inspection, and activity control while improving port management across the archipelago. Specifically, two vessels operate from the ports of Mahón and Ciutadella as part of the Coastal Surveillance, Inspection and Control Service, with the capacity to respond anywhere along the island’s coastline as required. The other two vessels are based in Ciutadella and Fornells and provide support for PortsIB’s internal operations, helping to ensure more efficient and agile management of port facilities.

During the presentation, Minister Juan Manuel Lafuente highlighted that “this year Menorca already has a fully operational service that allows us to strengthen coastal protection, improve oversight of activities taking place at sea, and provide a faster response to any incidents.”

Lafuente emphasized that “coastal surveillance is a fundamental tool for ensuring coexistence among the various uses of the sea, preserving our natural environment, and guaranteeing that nautical activities are carried out within the legal framework and under the highest safety standards.”

The service carries out surveillance, inspection, and monitoring of the maritime public domain and coastal waters, with particular attention to recreational and nautical activities. Its responsibilities include detecting irregular activities, combating illegal boat rentals, monitoring unauthorized anchoring, verifying documentation and administrative permits, and cooperating with other public authorities and enforcement bodies operating along the coastline.

This initiative complements the actions undertaken jointly by the Government of the Balearic Islands and the Civil Guard to combat illegal yacht charter operations. Since 2019, the number of sanction proceedings initiated for irregular activities related to boat rentals has increased by 853%, rising from 17 cases that year to 162 recorded in 2025, of which 61 correspond to Menorca.

With the service now fully operational in Menorca, the Balearic Government is reinforcing its commitment to more efficient coastal management, the protection of the marine environment, and the safety of all sea users.