These are the 26 proposals from the Marine Forum to protect the Balearic Sea

The organizing group of the Marine Forum of Ibiza and Formentera has officially submitted to public administrations a package of 26 technical measures aimed at reinforcing the protection of the Balearic Sea.

The proposals derive from the conclusions reached during the working sessions held on October 14th, as part of the 7th edition of the Forum. They have been sent to the Government of Spain, the Government of the Balearic Islands, the Island Councils of Ibiza and Formentera, and the municipalities of Ibiza, Santa Eulària, Sant Antoni, Sant Josep and Sant Joan.

According to IbizaPreservation —a member of the organizing team together with Fundación Pacha, Trasmapi, Insotel, Marina Ibiza, OD Group, The White Angel, Fundación Marilles and Vellmarí— the measures have now been formally registered, and meetings have been requested with each administration involved in protecting the sea, with the aim of monitoring the proposals and promoting their implementation.

The 2025 technical workshops of the Marine Forum, held under the theme "From Diagnosis to Action: The Future of Posidonia Meadows", involved more than twenty specialists in climate change, marine pollution, and coastal ecosystem conservation, as well as representatives from municipal and regional technical departments, the scientific community, the private sector, and social organizations.

Among the measures proposed are concrete actions to reduce transport-related emissions, improve wastewater treatment systems, reinforce traceability of discharges, and control the spread of invasive species threatening Posidonia oceanica. They also call for improving the marine surveillance network and establishing strict environmental criteria in coastal planning.

“The conclusions we present are not mere abstract suggestions but technical actions that must be taken urgently and that administrations can implement. For the well-being of our islands, it would be irresponsible not to act now,” stated Dr. Esteban Morelle-Hungría, professor at Universitat Jaume I and coordinator of the workshops. He insisted that “the capacity for adaptation and mitigation lies in the hands of our leaders, and it is essential to protect our coastline and marine ecosystems.”

To encourage action beyond the simple identification of problems, the workshops focused on three thematic axes: the impact of climate change and sea temperature, marine pollution from discharges and emerging substances such as microplastics, and the situation of Posidonia, with special attention to the Bay of Talamanca in Ibiza.

Among the participants were renowned scientists such as Dr. Rohan Arthur, researcher at India’s Nature Conservation Foundation and an international reference in the study of climate change impacts on oceans; Dr. Damià Gomis, professor of Physics and director of the Interdisciplinary Laboratory on Climate Change at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB); Dr. Núria Marbà, researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA – CSIC-UIB); Dr. Salud Deudero, director of the Balearic Oceanographic Center of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC); and Dr. Mélanie Juza, researcher at the Coastal Observation and Forecasting System of the Balearic Islands (SOCIB). Representatives of organizations such as Fundación Marilles, GEN-GOB, Salvem sa Badia, Trasmapi, the island councils of the Pitiusas, and the five municipalities of Ibiza also contributed.

“At the Marine Forum of Ibiza and Formentera, we are no longer talking about diagnosing problems but implementing solutions. The bold decisions taken today will determine the future of Posidonia, and therefore the future of Ibiza and Formentera,” emphasized Inma Saranova, director of IbizaPreservation. She highlighted that the presence of the administration in these workshops was essential to ensure responsibility when adopting measures.

The organizing team insists that this document marks a new direction for the Forum: “We want to move from reflection to action,” they conclude.

These are the 26 proposed measures

WORKING GROUP 1 – Climate Change and Rising Sea Temperature

Implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially in the transport (air, land, and sea) and energy production sectors.

1. In land transport: reduce mobility, discourage private vehicle use, and promote decarbonization.
    
2. In maritime transport: reduce global trade flows driven by globalization and use lower-emission fuels (e.g., natural gas instead of fuel oil).
    
3. In air transport: the only currently effective measure is reducing the number of flights.

Increase and prioritize investment in ocean monitoring systems, surface and deep waters, including buoys, sensors, and real-time observation stations to enable evidence-based management.

Conserve ecosystems and habitats with key roles in climate regulation by implementing passive restoration mechanisms. Active restoration is ineffective unless the causes of degradation are removed. Reduce pressures on damaged habitats, especially marine phanerogams like Posidonia oceanica.

Promote the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge across all sectors, administration, businesses, scientific community, NGOs, and civil society, through digital tools and collaboration networks that support practical application.

Adopt a more agile, innovative, results-oriented public governance model with clear objectives and indicators to evaluate management effectiveness.

 

Strengthen co-management as an effective model for sustainable fisheries by formalizing collaboration between administration and the professional sector. (A)

Promote mechanisms that integrate scientific knowledge with traditional fishing knowledge, ensuring shared responsibility and adaptive management.

Allocate specific resources to improve the sector’s resilience to climate challenges and ensure continuity of fishing activity.

Establish transparent communication in all management processes to build joint governance that benefits the fishing community and ensures long-term sustainability.

WORKING GROUP 2 – Marine Pollution from New Entities: Microplastics and Emerging Substances

Address marine pollution at a global scale following the One Health / Planetary Health approach, acknowledging that human health depends on healthy ecosystems free from contamination.

All administrations must adequately and jointly exercise their competencies to prevent marine pollution from both direct and indirect discharges.

Mandatory installation of separate sewer networks to prevent rainwater from entering treatment systems. Small-scale actions—like adding fiber filters in washing machines or removing polyester wipes from the market—could reduce microplastic input into the sea by over 50%.

Outfalls for wastewater and desalination discharges must be located far from sensitive habitats such as Posidonia oceanica.

Prioritize expansion of wastewater treatment plants to peak demand capacity, establishing revenue mechanisms that tax visitors and beneficiaries.

Homes and businesses in dispersed rural areas without sewer networks must have individual treatment systems ensuring proper purification before discharge or on-site reuse.

Create a Marine Environment Monitoring Network (habitats, invasive species, chemical pollution, etc.) to enable rapid detection of impacts.

Improve the management of bilge water and greywater from vessels, preventing discharge in coastal zones. (A/E)

WORKING GROUP 3 – Protection of Posidonia oceanica

Control invasive species. Rapid monitoring and tracking protocols are urgently required to address invasive species like Rugulopteryx okamurae or Caulerpa cylindracea.

Ensure effective separation of rainwater and wastewater networks in all municipalities.

 

Optimize wastewater treatment and implement traceability systems for discharges.

Promote regeneration and reuse of treated water following environmental criteria.

Renaturalize streams and watercourses to improve filtration and reduce pollutant loads.

Integrate real carrying-capacity assessments into all coastal planning before authorizing new infrastructure.

Improve filters and retention systems to prevent microplastics and contaminants from entering the marine environment.

Strengthen enforcement of anchoring regulations through institutional collaboration and the nautical sector. Establish regulated, ecological anchoring zones with awareness, monitoring, and effective sanctions for illegal or negligent anchoring.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement (COP 2015) to keep global warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.