The Government of the Balearic Islands has achieved a record in 2024 in the fight against illegal nautical illegal nautical charters. According to data provided by the Conselleria del Mar, this year 153 sanctioning proceedings have been initiated, with fines totaling 462,200 euros. This is the highest number of sanctions recorded to date, far exceeding the figures of previous years.
The General Directorate of Ports and Maritime Transport has intensified the control of illegal boat rental activities, in collaboration with the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard. This effort reinforces the Government’s commitment to ensure maritime safety and protect the environment in Balearic waters.
Infringements in figures
Of the 153 sanctioning files registered up to December 12:
- 64 correspond to minor infractions.
- 89 are serious violations.
- 65 files have already been finalized, while the remaining 88 are in various stages of processing.
The economic impact of these sanctions is notable, with a significant increase compared to 2023, when 109 sanctioning proceedings were initiated with fines totaling 125,020 euros. This increase underlines the increasingly strict approach to these activities. In the last five years, the Balearic Islands has experienced a steady increase in the number of sanctioning proceedings for illegal activities in the marine industry. The trend of intensifying controls has been consolidated, and 2024 marks a milestone in this strategy with a significant increase over the previous year. The Government attributes this success to the collaboration between the Directorate General of Ports and Maritime Transport and the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard, which has allowed greater efficiency in the detection and punishment of these practices. The Conselleria del Mar has stressed that these sanctions not only seek to curb illegal activities, but also to protect the safety of boaters and minimize the environmental impact in Balearic waters. The practices of illegal nautical charters, in addition to representing unfair competition, can compromise the conservation of the maritime environment and generate risks for users.
