The Balearic Nautical Council presents new commissions to benefit the island's nautical sector

Minister Lafuente highlights the importance of "responsible and accessible" maritime management to face the environmental and social challenges of the Balearics.

Juan Manuel Lafuente, Minister of the Sea and Water Cycle of the Balearic Government, and Antoni Mercant, Director General of Ports and Maritime Transport, presented yesterday, January 21, at the Club Marítimo Sant Antoni de la Playa, the operation of the technical commissions created within the framework of the Nautical Council. These commissions aim to analyze the current situation of the nautical sector in the Balearics and develop proposals that favor a more accessible, sustainable nautical activity balanced with social and environmental needs.

During the event, the importance of these commissions as a strategic tool to address the main challenges of the nautical sector in the Balearic Islands was highlighted, such as the saturation of navigable areas, the need for training adapted to the sector, and the promotion of more equitable access to the sea.

The technical commissions address five major areas of action, designed to respond to the current challenges of the sector:

• Social nautical commission: Promote access to the sea for all the population, especially young people, and study formulas to facilitate the use of boats or moorings in public facilities.
• Training and business commission: Analyze the training and labor systems to ensure they meet the sector's needs, promoting both regulated and non-regulated training.
• Nautical-sport and port infrastructure commission: Review and optimize the management of nautical and port facilities, as well as administrative concessions, to ensure their sustainability.
• Navigation, safety, and sustainability commission: Propose solutions for the saturation of maritime traffic and promote safe navigation that respects the environment.
• Maritime activities commission: Study the diversification and regulation of activities such as fishing, diving, chartering, and other recreational uses to ensure their sustainability.

The technical commissions will work with a schedule and methodology that ensure applicable results. During this January, the priority topics for each commission will be selected, and from February, meetings and technical analyses will be conducted. In May, a report with the conclusions and proposals will be presented to the Nautical Council, which will mark the next steps to follow.

Minister Juan Manuel Lafuente emphasized that "these commissions are a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with all stakeholders in the nautical sector, from institutions to businesses and citizens. We want an open nautical sector capable of facing future challenges."

Antoni Mercant, Director General of Ports and Maritime Transport, added that "the commitment of this process is to ensure that the final proposals are practical and effective in achieving a more sustainable and balanced management of the sector."

With the creation of these technical commissions, the Balearic Government reaffirms its commitment to improving the nautical sector, promoting more responsible management.

This effort of the technical commissions adds to other recent initiatives promoted by the Balearic Government. Recently, the future creation of a sea surveillance service was announced, equipped with a fleet of 22 rigid inflatable boats that will reinforce surveillance, inspection, and protection of the coastline of our islands. These boats will serve environmental protection and the control of maritime activities, with special attention to areas of high environmental value and those with greater tourist pressure.

Additionally, a few days ago, a public consultation was opened to update Decree 21/2017, which regulates the rental of boats in the Balearics. This regulatory update seeks to enhance safety, combat professional intrusion, ensure the sector's sustainability, and modernize management through more accessible digital tools.