The Government launches a new monitoring system to protect posidonia seagrass meadows

The monitoring system, operational since 1st of June, strengthens the prevention of anchoring over seagrass meadows and incorporates technological improvements to optimize the Surveillance Service.

The Final Conference of the European Interreg Euro-MED ARTEMIS project, held in Menorca this week, highlighted the role of the Balearic Islands as a benchmark territory in the Mediterranean for the sustainable management of marine ecosystems.

The Government of the Balearic Islands has launched a new season of the Posidonia Surveillance Service, with the aim of preventing anchoring on Posidonia oceanica and strengthening the conservation of the archipelago’s most important marine ecosystem. The Balearic Islands are home to nearly 650 km² of seagrass meadows, representing approximately half of Spain’s total Posidonia coverage.

Since the 1st of June, and until the 10th of October, a total of 20 vessels have been operating throughout the Balearic Islands under the management of the Balearic Nature Institute (IBANAT), which falls under the Directorate General for Natural Environment and Forest Management of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment. The service is distributed across the islands with six vessels in Mallorca, five in Formentera, four in Ibiza and five in Menorca. In Menorca, the Island Council contributes one vessel, while support is once again provided by the vessel of the S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park.

Minister Joan Simonet highlighted that “the operation works in coordination with the island councils, natural parks, marine reserves, the Government’s environmental officers, the Civil Guard and other competent authorities.” In addition to surveillance activities, Simonet noted that the service also carries out environmental monitoring, seabird censuses, marine wildlife assistance and awareness-raising initiatives aimed at both the nautical sector and the general public.

To improve the effectiveness of the operation, the Minister explained that “technological tools such as the AIS system, developed jointly with SOCIB, have been incorporated to optimize patrol planning and anticipate risk situations. Cartographic applications have also been implemented to help boaters identify suitable anchoring areas.”

In the same vein, Anna Torres, Director General for Natural Environment and Forest Management, stated that “the primary task of the operation is to inform, assist and raise awareness among boaters in order to prevent impacts on Posidonia meadows, a priority habitat protected by the European Union and essential to the health of the Mediterranean due to its role in oxygen production, blue carbon sequestration, water quality improvement and coastal protection against erosion.”

It is worth recalling that the Service concluded the 2025 season with 181,468 interventions, representing a 40% increase compared to the previous year, while detecting irregular anchoring in only 6.4% of cases, the lowest figure recorded since the service was established. Formentera continues to be the area with the fewest incidents, while areas such as Sant Antoni Bay, Porroig and Talamanca, as well as locations in Mallorca including Calvià, Andratx and Alcanada, experience greater nautical pressure.

In this context, the Balearic Islands hosted the Final Conference of the European Interreg Euro-MED ARTEMIS project this week. The event took place in Ciutadella, Menorca, from 8 to 10 June and brought together public administrations, research centres and international organisations from across the Mediterranean region.

Torres, who participated in the conference, emphasized that “the fact that the ARTEMIS project’s final conference was held in Menorca further reinforces the Balearic Islands’ role as a leading Mediterranean territory in the protection, restoration and sustainable management of marine ecosystems, and specifically of Posidonia.”

The conference, organised by the Menorca Socio-Environmental Observatory (IME-OBSAM) and Plan Bleu of the United Nations Environment Programme, with the Balearic Government participating as an associated partner, addressed the main challenges of seagrass meadow restoration, the valuation of the ecosystem services they provide, and financing mechanisms to support their recovery across the Mediterranean.

During the event, participants were able to visit and learn firsthand about flagship initiatives in the Balearic Islands, including the Posidonia Surveillance Service itself and the seagrass restoration project in Cala Blanca, Menorca. These initiatives highlighted the Balearic Islands’ strong commitment to marine conservation.