The Balearics reinforce maritime vigilance with drones, more ships and a new control centre

The action forms part of the new PortsIB’s vigilance, inspection and Balearic coastline service, which reinforced the presence and coordination between administrations for the protection of the marine environment.

The Balearic Islands Government, through the Sea and Water Cycle Counselling , has elaborated an inspections calendar that will be carried out in different points of the Balearic Islands, with the objective of reinforcing vigilance and nautical activity control, specially to fight against illegal charter, irregular mooring and securing the right management of the buoy camps.

In the mark of this calendar, yesterday, Tuesday, August 12th, an action has been carried out in the bay of Talamanca, in Ibiza, coordinated with Agriculture, Fishing and Natural Environment Counselling and Ibiza’s Council. This action has counted with the presence of the general director of Ports and Maritime Transport, Antoni Mercant; Ibiza’s mayor, Rafael Triguero; Embellishment and Energetic Transition councillor, Jordi Grivé; as well as representatives of PortsIB, inspectors of Maritime Transport, Environment Agents  (GOIB and MITECO), staff of the Natural Park of ses Salines of Ibiza and Formentera and fishing inspection boats.

The general director of Ports and Maritime Transport, Antoni Mercant, has pointed out the importance of this campaign, which counts with “more technical human and logistic resources than ever before, to protect our coastline and guarantee an organized and respectful nautical activity. The work with other administration and security bodies is essential to change illegal practices and preserve the marine environment”.

On his behalf, Ibiza’s mayor, Rafael Triguero, has affirmed that “today, in a coordinated way with PortsIB, we carry out a preventive action in the bay of Talamanca regarding uncontrolled moorings and charter. I want to express my appreciation for the presence of the drone, that, will be in Ibiza next year with the objective of dissuading and improving the vigilance”.

The actions of this operation have included the supervision of posidonia meadows moorings, the control of non-authorized charter ships, as well as the recollection of date for future interventions. This action forms part of the programmed calendar for inspections in other areas of the Balearic Islands.

In all the actions the drone service has been used, which allows obtaining a panoramic situation photography and acting with more efficiency and agility. Today this service has been used, which performs 10 hours a day, and significantly reinforces the vigilance, control, beaches tracking and buoy camps supervision tasks.

It is important to point out that, for the first time, a quantity of resources without precedents is invested on the coastline’s vigilance. The service has been reinforced with 22 ships, 10 destined to coastline waters vigilance and 12 to support the ports managed by PortsIB, and with a new control centre, active since yesterday, August 12th, focused on the management of mooring reserves, supervision of buoy camps and coastline cleaning. This centre is daily active, from 9 am to 8 pm, and has communication channels to attend doubts and incidents.