The Government bets for a more innovative and sustainable Ports Law

The second edition of the Blue Marina Forum took place yesterday morning, on June 3rd, at Puerto Portals. The event began at 10 a.m., serving as a space for discussion and exchange on marine and coastal sustainability. This year's theme was “Science and Commitment: Navigating Towards a Sustainable Future.”

The forum brought together leading experts from the scientific, institutional, and business sectors to discuss the role of science, innovation, and collective action in preserving the marine environment. The discussion, moderated by Puerto Portals CEO Corinna Graf, featured participants including Antoni Mercant, Director General of Ports and Maritime Transport; Antoni Riera, Technical Director of the Impulsa Foundation; Salud Deudero, Institutional Delegate of CSIC in the Balearic Islands; Anna Lloveras, Chief Science Officer and Co-founder of Ocean Ecostructures; Oriol Uviedo, Coordinator of the Surfing for Science project; and Dr. Nona Sheila Agawin Romualdo, Director of the Master's in Marine Ecology at UIB.

These experts highlighted the need to raise the visibility of sustainability projects, improve sustainability training for professionals in the nautical sector, and enhance coordination and management across sectors involved in the transition to a more circular model.

“We need collaboration and smoother communication with port managers to improve sustainability. From the Balearic Islands Government, we want to drive a change in regulations. The ports law needs modernization and should also be more sustainable,” stated Antoni Mercant, Director General of Ports and Maritime Transport.

Dr. Antoni Riera emphasized that the circular economy and sustainability can be a pathway to progress, with marinas being a key sector to implement it. He stressed the importance of better connecting sustainability initiatives so they are not isolated, but instead create synergies and are experienced and carried out collectively.

Salud Deudero, Institutional Delegate of CSIC in the Balearic Islands, said that ports should serve as observation platforms to monitor environmental changes such as temperature and oxygen concentration. “We are still very ignorant about what lies in the sea, and we need to understand it better,” she added.

Anna Lloveras, Chief Science Officer and co-founder of Ocean Ecostructures, reported that since Puerto Portals installed its biomimetic micro-reefs on its docks, there has been a 116% increase in species richness and a 207% increase in biomass.

The forum also featured Dr. Nona Sheila Agawin Romualdo, Director of the Marine Ecology Master's at UIB, and Oriol Uviedo, project and laboratory technician at the University of Barcelona. Uviedo presented the Surfing for Science research project, which aims to collect samples and gather data on microplastics and marine pollution through recreational, sporting, and other nautical activities. Dr. Agawin leads a program that combines theoretical and practical training in marine ecology, addressing topics such as marine biodiversity, ecosystem conservation, and sustainable resource management. Puerto Portals has been involved in the Surfing for Science project through its Sailing School.

Among the forum's main conclusions was the acknowledgment that the nautical sector needs real-world solutions rooted in science. “The data provided by scientific research is essential for experts in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, data analysis, and more to develop programs, apps, and systems that allow ports to be more efficient in our environmental commitments,” stated Corinna Graf, CEO of Puerto Portals.

“We are committed. Not only on World Oceans Day or during the beach clean-up day at Puerto Portals. Not only next month for Blue Marina Day or a year from now at this same Forum. The only commitment we understand is a sincere, responsible, and coherent one. An economic, business, social, and cultural commitment, with new goals set each year, adapting to the evolving challenges and needs of our seas. A commitment to science and continuous improvement,” Graf emphasized.

With this new edition, the Blue Marina Forum reaffirms its commitment to building alliances among science, institutions, and society to move toward a more sustainable model of marine and coastal management. An essential gathering for those who believe the future of our oceans is built through knowledge, collaboration, and action.