The Government expands Balearic coastal surveillance with an aerial drone and an underwater robot

The device combines an aerial drone and an underwater robot to strengthen monitoring in areas with high nautical traffic.

The Government of the Balearic Islands, through the Ministry of the Sea and the Water Cycle, carried out a new inspection day today, Thursday, September 4th, in Formentera, as part of the Balearic coastal surveillance service. The operation focused on s’Estany des Peix and the mooring field of s’Espalmador, two sites with high boat traffic, and included the participation of Antoni Mercant, Director General of Ports and Maritime Transport; Verónica Castelló, First Vice President and Minister of Environment of the Island Council of Formentera (Consell Insular de Formentera); the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard (Servicio Marítimo de la Guardia Civil); the Local Police; as well as a vessel from the Posidonia Surveillance Service of the Directorate-General for Natural Environment and Forest Management.

Control tasks are carried out with the support of a state-of-the-art aerial drone and an underwater robot (ROV), which extend coverage and allow for the detection of incidents both on the surface and on the seabed. This technological deployment strengthens monitoring capacity in environmentally sensitive areas.

Director General Antoni Mercant emphasized that “this year we have significantly reinforced technical and human resources to ensure stricter and more effective surveillance. The combination of the drone and the underwater robot allows us to act with greater precision and ensure the orderly and respectful use of the waters of Formentera and the entire archipelago.”

First Vice President and Minister of Environment of the Island Council of Formentera, Verónica Castelló, expressed her gratitude for “the joint work between administrations in controlling and monitoring nautical activity on our island’s coastline, as well as collaborating in the reinforcement of surveillance in such a sensitive area as s’Estany des Peix.” Castelló also recalled that “the technical services of the island administration have recorded around 140 boats anchoring in the area without authorization, and the corresponding sanctioning proceedings have already begun. This demonstrates the institution’s strong commitment to protecting the marine environment and regulating nautical activity on the island.”

The coastal surveillance service patrols different areas of the Balearic Islands daily with the aim of combating irregular practices, regulating nautical activity, and strengthening the protection of the marine environment.