Captain of G.C., Francisco Córdoba: “We have a lot of areas that are overcrowded of tourists"

Without any doubt, one of the principal economic motors of the Balearic Islands is tourism and it is in the summer where it reaches its peak. From May till October, approximately, our beaches and waters are filled with millions of visitors that arrive to our islands with hope to enjoy a day of relaxation at an authentic paradise. This is also the time of the year that the Guardia Civil Marine Service has the most work.

About 50 people are part of the Marine Service at the Guardia Civil at the Balearic Islands, staff that we have to add to the subaquatic activities, the GEAS and it is reinforced during the summer season by a detachment of the Peninsula.

The Captain of the Marine Service of the Guardia Civil at the Balearic Islands, Francisco Córdoba, has visited our study of Passion for the Sea to explain what are his chores in our seas and how he organizes the team to attend to all the calls that they receive during the summer.

“It is complicated because of the commute at sea” assures Captain Córdoba who adds that to try and minimize the time they distribute the boats in different areas. “We have to have many military bases so that it is easy for us to leave the boats at a place that is safe” explains the captain.

The team of the Marine Service of the Guardia Civil counts with three patrol boats of 18 meters, that includes a ship of high speed that was in action just a few months ago in an operation of drug trafficking, to its flagship “Río Segre”, a boat of 119 tons, with a length of 30 meters that allows them to spend several days at sea.

With these resources they confront everyday “all of the overcrowding” that happens at our islands, especially in the summer. “We are not only an archipelago, but we have many areas of relevance and both tourist and sea use magnification” , acknowledges Captain Córdoba.

The areas that suffer the most pressure, other than Ibiza and Formentera, is Es Trenc, Cala Millor, Cala Ratjada and Menorca. “After the pandemic there is an attraction towards Menorca that has an overcrowding in our ‘calas’” assures the captain. In fact, due to the increase of the tourists, the Marine Service of the Guardia Civil has highlighted its presence in the island. “The influences have made Menorca very popular” recognizes the Captain Córdoba.

In fact, “The most common violations are the security ones not only to have the documentation and the insurance, but that the flares are not expired. In addition, the illegal anchorages and everything related with jet ski navigation” explains the captain of the Marine Service. But, moreover, in the Balearic Islands we find the problem of illegal charters and the inexperience of the users, “not only people who do not have the title and that today are being favored to access a boat, but also people with qualifications but who have no experience” explainsCaptain Córdoba.

The Marine Service of the Guardia Civil in the Balearic Islands encourages all the users of the sea to get in contact with them when one sees a violation of the rules, “whether it is a spill, an illegal charter…” so that they can act on this information.