The Balearic Islands launch six new vessels to protect their marine ecosystems

The delivery of the last two units, carried out at the port of Sant Antoni de Portmany, completes the incorporation of these vessels, which will help improve environmental management, one of the priority actions included in the Government’s Marine Conservation Plan.

The Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment has completed the reception of its new marine environmental monitoring and management resources with the delivery, at the port of Sant Antoni de Portmany, of the last two semi-rigid inflatable boats. This initiative is part of an investment exceeding one million euros, financed with European funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

With this delivery, the incorporation of six new vessels is completed, aimed at strengthening surveillance, control, and conservation tasks for marine biodiversity in the Balearic Islands. This action is part of the strategic lines of the Marine Conservation Plan promoted by the regional government.

Four units will be assigned to environmental agents and will operate from the ports of Sóller and Colònia de Sant Pere in Mallorca, from Fornells port in Menorca, and from Sant Antoni de Portmany port in Ibiza. The other two vessels, along with their respective trailers, will be allocated to the S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park in Menorca and the Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera Natural Park.

The Director General of Natural Environment and Forest Management, Anna Torres, highlighted that “with the reception of the last vessels, we complete a strategic investment that significantly increases the operational capacity of the Regional Ministry in the marine field.” She noted that “having modern equipment adapted to current needs is essential to ensure effective monitoring of protected marine areas and to advance the conservation of our ecosystems.”

Torres added that “this new fleet will improve environmental control and monitoring tasks and facilitate a faster response to any incident.” She also stressed that “the protection of the marine natural heritage of the Balearic Islands requires adequate resources and a continued commitment to the modernization of public services responsible for its conservation.”

The Director General underlined that the new vessels are designed for professional use. They feature cabins and incorporate advanced technology, including infrared observation and surveillance systems, which will improve the efficiency, safety, and response capacity of teams working at sea.

The government has already begun the necessary administrative procedures to put the vessels into service, with the expectation that they will become operational by the end of summer.

The Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment recalls that this initiative is part of the Marine Conservation Plan, a tool promoted by the government to strengthen the protection, surveillance, and management of marine ecosystems in the Balearic Islands.