A total of 23 boats will clean the Balearic coastline

PalmaThe Government presented this Monday the 2026 season's coastline cleaning campaign, a device of 23 boats financed with the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS), which began on May 1 and will run until September 30.

The device consolidates the structure of 15 beach-type boats and eight coastline-type boats, which operate in a coordinated manner to act both in areas close to the coast and in more distant areas, with the aim of removing floating debris and preserving the environmental quality of the Balearic coastline.

The routes are organized from different base ports distributed throughout the territory. In Mallorca, the boats operate from Palma, Andratx, Sóller, Pollença, Alcúdia, Cala Rajada, Portocolom, Cala d’Or and Colònia de Sant Jordi; in Menorca, from Ciutadella, Fornells, Maó and Cala Galdana; in Ibiza, from the port of Ibiza, Sant Antoni and Santa Eulària; and in Formentera, from La Savina.

This distribution allows efficient coverage of the main stretches of coastline, including port areas, coves and areas of high environmental value.

Beach-type vessels are designed to operate in shallow areas, especially in coves and beaches, while coastal-type vessels can operate beyond the coastline, between 1 and 5 nautical miles, with greater collection capacity and better response to adverse maritime conditions.

The Director General of Ports and Maritime Transport, Toni Mercant, has highlighted that “the coastal cleaning campaign is an essential service to guarantee the environmental quality of the Balearic Sea and the safety of navigation, and it reflects the Government's firm commitment to the preservation of the marine environment”.

Balance of the 2025 campaign

The coastal cleaning service removed 36.8 tons of waste from the coasts of the Balearic Islands during the 2025 season, with a total of 36,804.57 kilograms collected, representing an increase of 32% compared to the previous year.

The campaign, carried out between May and September, helped maintain environmental quality and safety in the coastal and port areas of the islands, with an average of 269.39 kilograms of waste removed daily.

By island, Mallorca led the collection with 17,520.20 kg, followed by Ibiza with 9,598.20 kg, Menorca with 6,019.27 kg, and Formentera with 3,666.90 kg.

Regarding the types of waste, plastic was the predominant material, accounting for 44.27% of the total, followed by wood with 33.67%, while the rest corresponds to other materials in smaller proportions.