The conference taking place on 12 and 13 May in Menorca, will bring together highly interesting ideas in order to understand the economy and conservation possibilities of the sea. People interested can book here. Continue reading The sea of the future; conference on economy and conservation possibilities
Tag Archives: Marine ecology
New marine economy: conference 12 and 13 May
Algies, plankton or gluten free cereals produced by a marine plant are part of the sea garden promoted by Angel Leon, chef of the three star restaurant Aponiente in Cadiz. The biologist who advises him in the search and management of species, Juan Martin, will explain his expertise at the conference taking place on 12 and 13 May, with particularly interesting presentations. Continue reading New marine economy: conference 12 and 13 May
Protected coral and the Port of Mahon
Menorca has always been lucky in having a large natural port. It is six kilometres long, and is a result of the geological fault line between the north and south of the island.
It is evident that there are people who are insensitive to environmental issues, but these days the environment does not depend only on personal inclination. Now there are ample international regulations to ensure that the most threatened species are not lost. The law requires their conservation and sanctions are made against gratuitous attacks.
This is the case of the Mediterrean pillow coral, an endemic coral in our sea, which is protected by the International Agreement for the Protection of the Mediterranean. It is also a species included on the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List, classified as an endangered species and it has state level protection Listed as a Wild Species under the Regime of Special Protection.
This natural treasure that we are lucky enough to have in the Port of Mahon, has been in the public eye because construction works are required in areas where there are colonies of the coral. Here is a brief explanation.
The Cala Corb walkway
One of the points is in Cala Corb, where a work was demanded by the Es Castell Ayuntamiento to connect to the walkway that starts in Calesfonts. The report of the construction project was opened to public scrutiny, and a tender was made for a wooden walkway in the Cala Corb area.
To the surprise of everyone, once the works had been awarded and started, the definition of part of Cala Corb was altered while work was in progress, and huge amounts of waste materials were thrown into it. The same day that GOB asked to see the file for the licence, the works stopped.
No one had authorised this alteration. As a consequence of the dumping of waste materials, several colonies of the protected coral was gravely affected. The opinion of the environmental authority of the Central Government has been expected since then.
The argument given by the technicians who were involved is that the rock does not demonstrate sufficient strength to support the walkway as initially planned. But, this directly contradicts the project for the works which included a geological study, incorporated in Annex 1, that confirmed the strength of the rock made by different examinations carried out along the area where the cantilevered walkway was to run.
Studies signed off by qualified technicians, have not been contradicted by any written documentation from the Port Authority, only by word of mouth.
This means that the case of Cala Corb includes substantial, unauthorised modification of the licenced works, with no consideration for the study submitted on the environmental effects with a consequent serious impact on the protected species all because of a version in complete contradiction to that on file.
Fixing the planned walkway is technically easy to resolve because there are sufficient methodologies on the market to guarantee its possibility. This is especially so when a technical study exists that details the solidity of each part of the rock that will support it.
In GOB’s opinion, it would be sensible to recoup the original project, remove the dumped waste and process a restitution to the environmental damage. This seems to be the clearest way to finish the project and respond to the municipal request for making a walkway to connect with the pedestrian path.
The Illa del Rei Dock
A few months after the Cala Corb case, interest was shown in tendering for an extension to the dock on the south side of the Illa del Rei, also with a gravity load system so that the dimensions would be little more than double the current size.
To avoid new irreversible effects, GOB asked the Port Authority that a survey of environmental values be made before carrying out the work, bearing in mind that the entire outer perimeter of the Illa del Rei is an ANEI (A Natural Area of Special Interest) High Level of Protection.
This was done and its was found that the area also had the same coral species present as in Cala Corb, so the work was held up waiting to know if the environmental Ministry would authorise moving the coral colonies to another
place.
The project, when opened to public scrutiny, did not justify a need for this extension. It should be remembered that the dock had already been enlarged in 2008 by 30% and an auxiliary work dock in 2010.
If it is shown that the activity is in the public interest then consideration should be given that there may be other systems, used in other ports of Menorca, that can be used for pontoons, rather than the gravity load system with the inevitable dramatic change to the entire seabed.
It must be borne in mind that the Illa del Rei is just three kilometres from the mouth of the Port. The enlargement of the dock proposed is to be made to the west, that is towards the inner part of the Port, sheltered by the existing gravity load dock. We understand that using infrastructure with less impact would serve to unblock the current holdup of the works.
But, if it is insisted in making a work dock, then there will have to be a further delay to that of the last two years, waiting for the Ministry authorization.
The Ports are areas that coexist closely with the individual problems of the towns. The Port of Mahon has seen a lot of waterside loss and changes to the sidewalks, especially in the last 50 years. Learning to use it without causing endless damage to the environment is a moral necessity and a legal obligation.
Fornells and avoidable impacts
GOB has worked and continues to work on reducing and controlling the impacts caused by the remodelling of the Port of Fornells. It has focussed on various features that in our opinion are very important at an environmental level. Allegations, resources, meetings and opinion notes have been used, but no time has been dedicated to the proposed project of a new building in the urban area because there were already so many people analysing this intervention. Continue reading Fornells and avoidable impacts
Menorcan Fishing Resources in danger
For the second year running, Menorca has registered very few fishing disciplinary proceedings. There is an increasing sensation of impunity and a danger of poaching. There are public servants who are not carrying out their duties. Continue reading Menorcan Fishing Resources in danger
Sign up for a workshop to help injured marine animals
A workshop (free) is being offered this week to show the best practices for liberating, including reanimating, birds and marine turtles tangled in fishing gear. Continue reading Sign up for a workshop to help injured marine animals
Menorca already exceeds its available boating capacity
The General Plan of the Balearic Ports has been accompanied by an obligatory study for the available boating capacity in Menorca. The resulting figures have surpassed reality for some years. The data, available at an official level, ought to make port managers and companies with nautical links rethink their activities. Menorca should supply good service, attention and repairs but not increase its number of moorings. Continue reading Menorca already exceeds its available boating capacity
Drones and light aircraft for protecting posidonia
GOB has written formally to the Balearic Government to condemn the repeated lack of compliance by some people at sea who drop anchor on the Posidonia fields and other marine seed plants. It asks that new technologies be used to control the situation. Continue reading Drones and light aircraft for protecting posidonia
Volunteering for marine turtles
On 1 July, 47 marine turtles born in Sa Mesquida in August 2020 were released. Both private and public groups participated and were involved in the laying, incubation and the development of the hatchlings, but importantly, was the participation of the volunteers who for twenty days and nights watched over the nest. Continue reading Volunteering for marine turtles
35 groups participate along the coastline in “Clean Up The Med”
A total of 35 groups in Menorca, with 273 people, came together in May for the European Days of “Clean Up The Med”. The goal was to find and collect microplastics, which are so difficult to single out. Even so, some groups collected more than 46 kg of waste that was found in their adopted section with a total of 245 kg jointly in one day. Continue reading 35 groups participate along the coastline in “Clean Up The Med”