Massification in the Balearic Sea due to the eclipse: destruction that will take decades to recover

PalmaMore than 10,000 boats will set sail off the coast of the Balearic Islands to experience the eclipse on August 12, a meteorological event that will have "unacceptable and disastrous" environmental consequences. This is explained by Raquel Vaquer, a biologist from the Marilles Foundation, who assures that "the destruction of marine flora and fauna that will occur to see a 1.5-minute eclipse will take many decades to recover".

Although the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment is carrying out a surveillance and control device "without precedent", the Director General of Ports IB, Toni Mercant, explains that "at sea there is no type of restriction or special prohibition for this event, there are recommendations and also current regulations". A fact that, according to both Vaquer and Joan Moranta, president of GOB, will make it impossible to control what all the boats are doing and will have a "brutal impact" on the entire marine ecosystem of the Archipelago.

In this regard, Moranta remarks that "on this day everyone will throw their little anchor in the best place they find to see the eclipse without thinking about the consequences or where they are anchoring". Vaquer, for his part, highlights the fact that even though it is prohibited, "there are already illegal anchorages every day", and adds that on August 12th, when "the pressure on the Balearic Sea will triple or quadruple... I don't want to imagine what will happen".

Biologist Raquel Vaquer explains that the marine ecosystem of the Archipelago "cannot even assume the burden that is experienced during the summer months" and that this overcrowding that will be registered on August 12 will have "very serious consequences." Vaquer explains that, according to the latest studies, a 15-meter boat snatches a patchof seagrass that is five years to recover, and highlights the idea that if we add up all the illegal anchorages that will be produced on August 12th to see the eclipse, full recovery, "if it ever comes" will "take many decades to occur".

Environmental dangers of mass tourism at sea

Both Vaquer and Moranta agree on the fact that anchoring on meadows (of posidonia and other plants and algae) are the main problem that will cause this overpopulation of the marine ecosystem. Anchoring will cause thousands of plants to be uprooted and will leave large gaps in areas where meadows are the center of the marine ecosystem.

However, the biologist points out that "it is not the only environmental danger of the maritime overcrowding that will be experienced that day". As she explains, there will also be large discharges of fuel, oil, and sewage that will pollute the water, an increase in plastic waste will be recorded, and a day with high noise pollution will be experienced, affecting both marine fauna and birds living on the coast. Facts that will also cause a great degradation of the environment and the marine ecosystem of the Archipelago.

However, Vaquer points out that the problem is that on the seabed "it is not like land where the consequences of actions are easily seen, it is more difficult, and when they become visible it is already too late." In this regard, she criticizes that currently "the sea is seen as a space for leisure or as a simple landscape and we forget that it is an ecosystem".

An unprecedented control device

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment has announced an "unprecedented" control device to prevent both coastal forest fires and illegal anchoring in posidonia meadows. A total of about twenty boats will sail along the Balearic coast on August 12. As detailed by the minister Joan Simonet, the Government's Posidonia Surveillance Service will deploy a special "preventive" operation.

This will start in the days leading up to the eclipse and will particularly strengthen surveillance in Ciutadella, Sóller, Andratx, Colonia de Sant Jordi, and the west coast of Ibiza, areas where a greater concentration of boats is expected. From the ministry, they explain that the Posidonia Surveillance Service will develop "a direct information campaign with boat captains to remind them of the need to anchor respectfully and prevent anchors and chains from impacting the posidonia meadows." In addition, they will also offer information to sailors about available respectful anchoring systems.

For environmentalists, this measure is "positive, but insufficient." Vaquer advocates for limiting access to protected areas, as is done in the Serra de Tramuntana, controlling access to prevent the capacity of these more vulnerable areas from being exceeded. "Access to protected marine areas and shallow bays could even be prohibited," he adds.

Despite the large operation that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment has announced it will deploy, it has also wanted to clarify that "the competencies of the maritime safety service do not correspond to the Government."

All in all, the reality is that although the focus of attention and restrictions have focused on the overcrowding that will occur in the Serra de Tramuntana, the pressure that will be experienced in the Balearic Islands to witness the eclipse also poses a serious danger to the marine flora and fauna of the Archipelago. A marine ecosystem that, according to environmentalists, "is not sufficiently protected by the pressure it will receive" and may experience a "black day" that, environmentally speaking, "will be remembered very negatively for the rest of the century."