A stuck sailboat reopens the debate on the consequences of illegal anchoring

PalmThe stranding of a sailboat on the bay's promenade after recent winds has once again brought attention to illegal anchoring and the abandonment of vessels along the Balearic coast. This is the complaint of the environmental organization Arrels Marines, which warns that the incident "is not only a consequence of the storm but also of a structural problem" of lack of control and neglect along the coastline.

According to the organization, the stranded sailboat had already been publicly reported in December due to its state of neglect, and they believe it was foreseeable that it would end up on the sidewalk with the first gusts of wind. "The sea cannot be a dumping ground," they stated, and are now asking who will be responsible for removing the vessel and the associated costs.

Raíces Marines points out that this is not an isolated case. In 2025, a sailboat remained afloat for ten months off the coast of La Garganta, in the Bay of Pollença, until the City Council had to allocate €40,000 of public funds to remove it. This incident, according to the organization, exemplifies the consequences of allowing illegal anchoring and the abandonment of vessels without preventative measures.

The complaint comes amid a broader context of marine degradation, with thousands of illegal deaths in the Balearic Islands particularly affecting seagrass meadows and the seabed. Environmental groups are demanding increased monitoring, clear accountability, and efficient mechanisms to prevent abandoned vessels from becoming an environmental and economic problem.