We call on the regional government to provide immediate funding for the Balearic Islands Marine Conservation Plan 

Marilles Foundation has formally requested the president of the regional government, Margalida Prohens, and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment, Joan Simonet, to secure funding for the Balearic Islands Marine Conservation Plan, which was presented to the government on 16 February. 

As Marilles has pointed out, this plan lacks a key element: a budget allocation to guarantee its implementation. Although this should be included in the government’s general budget, Marilles notes that the approval of the 2026–2027 Annual Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS) Plan offers an opportunity to drive forward priority actions.  

Marilles urges the regional ministry to finance projects directly linked to the Marine Conservation Plan by the ITS and, where appropriate, to do so in coordination with the other relevant regional ministries. 

Among the actions proposed by Marilles for funding, included in the government’s plan, the following stand out: the scientific monitoring programme for marine biodiversity, the conservation plan for shallow bays, the strengthening of surveillance in marine protected areas, and the co-management plans for the bays of Alcúdia and Pollença.  

According to Marilles, the Marine Conservation Plan has great potential. However, without allocated resources, the targets set for 2027 and 2030 are at risk of not being met.  

Aniol Esteban, Marilles director: “The Marine Conservation Plan could be a tool to help secure a future for our sea. To achieve this, we must first activate the mechanisms that will turn its proposals into real action.”