Coastal Cleaning Boats managed by the Ministry of the Sea and Water Cycle collected a total of 9,005.75 kilograms of waste in the Balearic Islands during May and June. This year, the campaign started in May, a month earlier than usual.
Image of one of the coastal cleaning boats removing a stranded boat. Photo: CAIB.
In the Balearic Islands, 9,005.75 kilos of waste were collected, equivalent to a daily average of 296.48 kilos. This work was carried out by 22 beach and coastal boats, hired by the Directorate General of Ports and Maritime Transport, including a new diesel-electric hybrid boat to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Monthly Data
During May, more than 3,447 kilos of waste were collected throughout the archipelago. Mallorca was the island with the highest amount of waste collected, with 1,678 kilos. Menorca followed with just over 1,072 kilos, while Eivissa and Formentera collected 478 and 218 kilos, respectively. Wood was the most common waste, accounting for 66.85% of the total, followed by plastic with 26.94%, and other types of waste like tires and beach material, making up 5.86%.
Wood is the main type of waste removed from the waters of the Balearic archipelago. Photo: CAIB.
In June, the amount of waste collected increased significantly, exceeding 5,558 kilos across the archipelago. Menorca led with 2,311 kilos, closely followed by Mallorca with over 2,000 kilos. Eivissa collected over 1,036 kilos and Formentera just over 209 kilos. This month, wood remained the most collected material, representing 54.43% of the total, while plastic accounted for 38.77% and other waste 3.18%.
The beach boats, designed to operate in shallow waters and collect small floating debris, collected over 2,030 kilos of waste in June. Of these, Mallorca contributed 531 kilos, Eivissa 699 kilos, and Menorca almost 800 kilos. Formentera had no beach boat waste collection in June.
The coastal boats, which operate both in shallow waters and in areas up to 5 miles offshore, collected over 3,500 kilos of waste in June. Mallorca was responsible for 1,469 kilos of this collection, Menorca for 1,512 kilos, Eivissa for 337 kilos, and Formentera for almost 210 kilos.
Special Collections
The dispersion of foams and oils prompted various special actions along the Balearic coast. Photo: CAIB.
In addition to regular collection, special collections were carried out to address exceptional situations. In Mallorca, remains of a boat, a log, and sea foam dispersion in May were removed, and foam dispersion and various sticks in June. In Menorca, two large logs were removed in May and several logs in June. In Eivissa, pieces of a boat were collected in May, and a drifting boat and oil dispersion in June. In Formentera, sticks and oil dispersion were removed in May, and boat remains and a log in June.
In these two months, the Ministry of the Sea and Water Cycle responded to eight alerts, five of which were managed in collaboration with the emergency service 112 and Maritime Rescue, while three were reported by institutions and individuals.
The waste recovery campaign started in May and will continue until September 30.
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