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Over the weekend of 31 January–1 February, GEN-GOB of Ibiza hosted the meeting of the inter-Island Board of GOB, the coordination body of the four island sections.
Participants in the meeting, representing the GOB sections from each island, agreed on the need to provide the Autonomous Community with a Biosecurity Law. This is an urgent matter, as the islands are currently unprotected against the entry of invasive species due to the absence of their own regulations. In addition, existing state, European and international regulations are poorly applied and are far from being a priority in the management of ports and airports. At the same time, biosecurity problems are worsening at an alarming rate. The most extreme case is Ibiza, where invasive snakes are wiping out the population of the native lizard.
GOB has decided to devote part of its efforts to raising public awareness of the importance of biosecurity in an archipelago like ours, where the human movement of biological material in and out is completely disproportionate compared to the very low current level of control.
Another issue addressed by the Inter-Island Board at its meeting in Ibiza, at the proposal of the Formentera section, was the demand that authorities improve management and inspection in marine protected areas. The problem is currently very serious in Formentera, where sectors that oppose marine conservation under the excuse of recreational fishing use false arguments that conceal the well-proven evidence of the positive effect of marine reserves on the recovery of catches in all adjacent areas.
It was also highlighted that a common problem across all the islands is the lack of buses for educational activities, as priority is given to the tourist sector, and on the few occasions when buses are available they are excessively expensive and do not always show up to pick up schoolchildren.
This meeting was due to be held in Formentera, as the inter-island gatherings rotate among the islands, but when the port of La Savina was closed because of bad weather it was held in Ibiza instead. Nevertheless, the Formentera delegation took part. In short, all the island sections of GOB continue to be committed to coordinating efforts on issues that affect all the islands.