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These days, the Port Authority has announced investments of around 50 million euros in the port of Maó between now and 2030. GOB, in a direct meeting with port officials, has raised some concerns with the body responsible for managing the port.

Redesigning the south shore without addressing the sewage collector?

One of the proposed actions is the reorganization of the south shore, from sa Colàrsega to Cala Figuera, with an approximate cost of 8 million. But the operation does not include the upgrading of the sewage collector, an essential intervention before building the new promenade.

The wastewater and rainwater from Maó end up in the unitary collector that runs, underground, along the south shore of the port. It is an obsolete infrastructure, which causes repeated discharges into the port area every time there is significant rainfall. Moreover, the poor condition of the installations causes seawater to infiltrate into the sewage system, making the water arriving at the joint Maó–Es Castell treatment plant hypersaline. Since urban treatment plants are not equipped with mechanisms to extract salt, the treated water is not suitable for reuse.

GOB has asked the Port Authority to include this intervention before remodeling and repaving the entire south shore because the collector runs underground along this entire route.

Halting the unchecked growth of moorings

The awarding of the new concession for s’Altra Banda, on the north shore, involves increasing the number of existing moorings from 391 to 523. An increase of 132 places that would require installing new pontoons, affecting areas with a high likelihood of the presence of protected species, and contradicting the nautical carrying capacity study for Menorca.

This tender was already appealed and criticized by GOB. Considering that, given official studies showing that Menorca had exceeded its nautical carrying capacity in 2010 (more information here), it makes no sense to keep increasing nautical pressure on our coasts with more moorings.

The main increase under this concession is planned for the Isla del Rey, where more pontoons are expected to be added and connected to the island to supply them with water and electricity.

Additionally, there are two other projects for reorganization and pontoon installation in Cala Figuera, which would add another 140 mooring spots. One of the projects involves the construction of a marina for large vessels, including a concrete breakwater at the tip of Fonduco, an area where experts consider there is a high probability of it being colonized by the protected coral Cladocora caespitosa.

Concern over port desalination plants

Both the North Shore concession and the one in Colàrsega foresee the installation of desalination plants to supply water to the boats. GOB reiterated its concern about the potential effects on the port’s ecosystems caused by the repeated discharge of brine (more information here).

Brine is water with a very high salt concentration and, therefore, with a higher density than seawater. If discharged in an area with little renewal, such as the port of Maó, brine will accumulate at the bottom, increasing salinity and affecting the habitats found there.

These concessions are granted to projects that have not undergone any prior environmental evaluation process, meaning no one is assessing the effects that may arise in a port that is a natural space hosting species protected by law.

Request for a study on the port’s environmental values

For years, GOB has been requesting that the Port Authority carry out a detailed study of the natural values found within the harbor. Unlike other locations, Maó is a natural port. This means there are ecosystems, species, and ecological functions that existed prior to port transformation.

The fact that it is a sheltered area about six kilometers long also gives it particular importance in terms of the island’s marine environment, as many juvenile fish seek refuge there to grow before repopulating the surroundings. Some species also use parts of the port for breeding. Maó is not an artificial breakwater—it is a space with high natural value.

For these reasons, we continue to call for a rigorous scientific study to identify the areas of greatest importance from a natural perspective so that they can be preserved and recognized for their true value.