After consulting with the public and reviewing applications, the Consell de Formentera is pleased to report that the Governing Board has approved provisional assignments of ecological moorings under the project to regulate and recover Estany des Peix.

The list was published today on the Consell de Formentera bulletin board and in the minutes section of the Governing Board on the Consell website here.

The 285 approved moorings—78 on floating pontoons and 207 low-impact anchorages—represent the maximum number permitted in Ses Salines Park. Of those, 137 have preferential rights because applicants demonstrated they had begun anchoring in Estany des Peix before the Natural Resources Management Plan (Pla de Ordenació dels Recursos Naturals) took effect 5 July 2002.

Recovering a degraded area
"We are in the final phase of a complex, pioneering project that has been widely backed by the society of Formentera. It will allow us to recover a protected area that has been severely degraded by the large number of anchored boats and many years of unregulated and unauthorised activities", said Antoni Tur, environment councillor.

Informing users
In a process that will be based on vessel type, including features like length, beam and draft, and on boat owners themselves, such as whether they are elderly or have mobility problems, buoy and pontoon numbers will be determined and communicated in the coming days. Boats not authorised for the mooring points cannot be anchored in Estany des Peix due to environmental concerns and the carefully safeguarded space and natural beauty.

Once the locations of mooring assignments are communicated, boat owners will receive complete details about conditions and proper use of the equipment associated with the new regulatory scheme.

Clearing 1,700 deadweight anchors, 500 kg of debris and a dozen abandoned boats
Cleaning operations are also centring on the Estany des Peix shoreline, where debris from abandoned boats and buoys often accumulate. According to Councillor Tur, cleanup of the seabed meant removing more than 1,700 deadweight anchors, 500 kg of debris and waste, a dozen abandoned boats and three sunken vessels.

Questions? The Consell provides assistance through the Office of Environment via telephone (971321210) and email (mediambient@conselldeformentera.cat).

24 April 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera