Sanitja’s port to retain its current moorings for the next three years

Regional Minister Juan Manuel Lafuente presents the solution that will allow port activity to continue while the final administrative process moves forward.

The Government of the Balearic Islands has resolved the administrative situation of Sanitja’s port through a solution that will allow the existing 41 mooring berths to remain in operation for the next three years. The announcement was made yesterday, Wednesday, 17th of June, at the harbour itself by the Minister for the Sea and the Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, accompanied by the Mayor of Es Mercadal, Joan Palliser; Es Mercadal Town Councillor Tóbal Pons; and the President of the Sanitja Harbour Users Association, Bep Riudavets.

The measure brings an end to a period of uncertainty affecting harbour users following the launch of the process to regularise the occupation of the public maritime-terrestrial domain in this area on the northern coast of Menorca.

The solution has been made possible thanks to the coordinated work carried out over recent months by the Government of the Balearic Islands, the Directorate-General for Coasts and the Coastline, the Coastal Authority, the Island Council of Menorca, Es Mercadal Town Council, and the Sanitja Harbour Users Association. This joint effort has enabled the completion of the procedures necessary to maintain the moorings while the definitive administrative process continues.

During this process, numerous sector-specific reports had to be obtained and incorporated due to the unique nature of Sanitja, an area with significant environmental, heritage, archaeological, and landscape value. The procedure involved authorities responsible for natural environment management, marine biodiversity, maritime safety, port management, and local administration. In addition, the legal and technical complexity of the case required the assessment of various alternatives to ensure a solution compatible with current regulations and the preservation of the area's environmental and heritage values.

Based on these reports and the work undertaken by the different administrations involved, a solution has been established that allows the existing moorings to remain in place while ensuring the protection of the public maritime-terrestrial domain and the environmental and heritage assets present in the area.

The temporary authorisation also includes a series of conditions aimed at safeguarding this unique site. These measures include the prohibition of creating new access points or expanding existing facilities, the obligation to provide adequate resources to prevent potential pollution incidents, and the adoption of measures for the proper management of waste generated by port activities. These conditions make it possible to reconcile the continued use of the moorings with the conservation of the natural, landscape, and cultural values that characterise the Sanitja area.

Lafuente highlighted that “the Government’s priority has been to find a solution that preserves the traditional uses of Sanitja with full legal guarantees while respecting the environmental and heritage values of this unique site.” The Minister added that “cooperation between the various administrations has been essential in reaching an agreement that provides security and stability for harbour users.”

Sanitja’s port is one of the most distinctive natural shelters on the northern coast of Menorca. Historically used as a refuge for vessels during strong tramuntana winds, it plays a strategic role for users of this stretch of coastline and retains significant historical and heritage value linked to the island’s maritime activity.

The temporary authorisation will allow the current mooring berths to remain in operation for a period of three years while the necessary measures continue to be implemented to establish a stable long-term solution for the harbour within the framework of current regulations.