Mallorca jet skis face 300-metre beach and cove ban

Mallorca's beaches and coves: jet skis face a proposed ban within 300 metres of shore under plans announced on Friday, 9 October. The Marilles Foundation wants the rule to apply across the Balearic Islands, along with a ban in protected marine areas and swimming corridors. It is one of 25 changes the foundation has submitted to a new coastal law now before parliament.

Slower boats near shore

Marilles also wants devices fitted to jet skis to keep them below five knots within the first mile of the coast. For other boats, it wants the limit there cut from ten knots to five. Its proposals would also give formal recognition to corridors for swimming and snorkelling.

A tougher test for private coastal use

New permits and concessions for private use of the public coast should be granted only in justified exceptional cases, Marilles says. Applicants would have to show that their activity serves the public interest, cannot take place elsewhere, meets environmental and landscape requirements, and fits plans for protected marine areas.

The foundation also wants to stop the permanent removal of Posidonia seagrass from beaches. It would allow removal only during the bathing season on urban and peri-urban beaches.

On Menorca, Marilles wants to keep articles 20 and 21 of the Menorca Biosphere Reserve Law. It warns that removing them would end the requirement to consult the Island Council of Menorca before decisions on the boundaries of the public coast or permits for its use. The coastal bill remains before parliament; the proposed changes are not yet law.

Topics: Sea & coast

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com