Companies and civil society ask the government for more investment and commitments to conserve the sea and the Balearic coast

The time has come to make firm commitments to marine and coastal conservation. The sea gives us a lot; we give it back very little. A sea and a coast in an excellent state of conservation are essential for the future of key economic sectors in the Balearic Islands and the welfare of the citizens. Not investing in marine conservation takes its toll. The commitments of the Balearic blue pact are in line with the EU laws. These are some of the conclusions drawn from the meeting of signatories of the Balearic Blue Deal that brought together dozens of signatory companies and organisations at the headquarters of the Bar Association of the Balearic Islands in Palma to make visible and celebrate the broad support received by the Balearic Blue Deal.

During the event, the Minister of the Sea and Water Cycle of the Balearic Government, Juan Manuel Lafuente, expressed his support for the pact and the firm commitment of the new government to marine conservation. A chapter of the documentary Arxipèlag Blau was also screened, and a round table held in which the director of the Impulsa Foundation, Antoni Riera; director of Puerto Portals, Corinna Graff; vice-president of the FEHM, María José Aguiló; and lawyer José Antonio Fernández de Alarcón reflected on the essential role that the conservation of the sea and the Balearic coast has in strategic economic sectors of the Islands. They noted the reasons for their support of this initiative along with more than 160 companies and organisations. The round table was moderated by journalist and businesswoman Paula Serra. 
 
The Balearic Blue Deal asks political parties to assume five commitments to the sea and the Balearic coast in their government programmes and parliamentary actions: 
1. Create a network of marine sanctuaries that will cover 10% of the Balearic Sea. 
2. Implement plans for the conservation and recovery of vulnerable habitats and species. 
3. Guarantee sustainable fishing and put an end to poaching and fraudulent trade. 
4. Improve the quality of our coastal waters. 
5. Invest a minimum of 1% of public budgets in marine conservation.

A cross-cutting clamour for political action 

In the current context of national elections and the formation of new governments at regional, island, and local level, hotel chains, environmental organisations, and dozens of companies and representatives of the tourism, nautical, fishing, real estate, and financial sectors have joined forces to ask all political parties in the Balearic Islands to adopt concrete measures to protect the sea. 
 
The number and diversity of companies and organisations supporting the pact sends a clear message to all political parties: We cannot only use the sea to enjoy and extract goods and services; we must also act and take responsibility to protect and care for it. The Pacte Blau proposes realistic, necessary, assumable, and legally based commitments based on previous regional, state, and international agreements. In fact, in many cases it is only a matter of applying the law and providing it with resources. The rulers are responsible for protecting one of our greatest treasures.

"The Balearic Blue Deal proposes solutions to fill our marine and coastal environment with life and give it the attention it deserves. Balearic society has sent a clear message to the new government: We want more and better marine conservation. We hope to see the measures proposed by the Pacte Blau Balear reflected in the plan and budgets of the new government. The Balearic Islands has only 0.2% of the sea highly protected and must multiply this amount by 50 in less than seven years if it wants to achieve the 30x30 and 10x30 objectives. The legislature that begins is key to achieve it," said Aniol Esteban, director of Marilles Foundation. 

"Listen to the clamour of civil society. It is necessary to take action – individual and collective, public and private – that allows us to protect a marine environment that is a source of work, sustainability, economy, welfare, and pure life, " said Martín Aleñar, dean of the Bar Association of the Balearic Islands. 

The parties have heard the message 

The Balearic Blue Deal was presented in March 2023 in the Parliament of the Balearic Islands at an event to which all political parties with parliamentary representation were invited. This latest event was also attended by representatives of most of the political parties.

The Balearic Sea is a source of benefits, enjoyment, leisure, and wellbeing. But this natural marine capital is under strong pressure and it is necessary to act to protect it. The future of such important industries for the Balearic Islands as tourism, sailing, fishing, and the jobs that depend on them is closely linked to a sea and a coast in an excellent state of conservation. We all have a responsibility that we must exercise to preserve our sea. Tourism, boating, and fishing, both professional and recreational, can play a key role in improving the conservation status of the sea and the Balearic coast. Everyone agrees that the experience at sea, whether for sailors, tourists, fishers, or Balearic citizens, is more satisfying in a sea full of life. The Balearic Blue Deal is for all of them, and in fact, it already has the support of many representatives of all these sectors.