The Balearic Government has stepped up inspections of the nautical sector, carrying out more than 1,350 checks across the islands so far this year and opening 68 sanctioning proceedings related to charter activity.

The campaign is aimed at tackling irregular boat rentals and other forms of illegal or non-compliant nautical activity while protecting businesses operating within the legal framework.

The figures were presented on September 21 during the fourth meeting of the Balearic Islands' Mesa de Lucha contra el Intrusismo, where the Government reviewed this year's inspection campaign and announced further resources for the 2027 season.

22 Boats Form Part of the New Surveillance Service

The main new measure this season has been the launch of the Coastal Control and Surveillance Service.

The service operates with 22 vessels distributed across the Balearic Islands and coordinated from a central control centre. It combines scheduled inspections with responses to reports of possible irregularities.

By mid-September, the service had carried out 147 documented working days and more than 1,358 activity checks or inspections across the islands.

These operations resulted in 128 formal acts being raised and 39 complaint bulletins being issued.

What Are Inspectors Checking?

The inspections cover several areas of maritime activity.

Particular attention is being paid to charter operations, vessel documentation and safety conditions, anchoring, protection of Posidonia seagrass, passenger transport and boarding arrangements, and the operation of regulated mooring fields.

In charter inspections, authorities have identified cases involving vessels operating without the required declaration or registration, missing mandatory identification, incomplete or inconsistent contracts, incomplete commercial documentation and skippers without the required qualifications.

The Government describes these as irregularities detected during inspections, with the relevant documentation subsequently analysed as part of administrative procedures.

Drones Added to the Inspections

Drones have also been incorporated into some operations.

The technology allows inspectors to monitor areas that are more difficult to access, follow vessels and anchoring activity over a wider area and gather images, coordinates and other supporting material.

That information can subsequently be incorporated into administrative proceedings where appropriate.

Ibiza and Formentera

The campaign has also been operating in the Pitiusas.

Between June 22 and September 14, the service carried out 27 documented working days in Ibiza and Formentera.

During that period, 66 activities were recorded, resulting in 19 formal acts and 14 complaint bulletins.

These figures form part of the wider island-by-island surveillance programme operating across the Balearics.

Mallorca Accounts for Most of the Activity

Mallorca has recorded by far the largest volume of activity.

Between June 4 and September 14, the surveillance service completed 72 documented working days and more than 1,231 checks.

Inspectors raised 74 acts and issued 16 complaint bulletins.

Of the checks carried out in Mallorca, 311 specifically concerned charter activity, while 687 focused on anchoring, 234 on Posidonia protection and 163 on regulated mooring fields.

Menorca Also Under Inspection

In Menorca, 48 documented working days were carried out between May 27 and September 13.

The service recorded 61 activities, 35 formal acts and nine complaint bulletins.

The figures show that the Government's new surveillance system is being deployed across the whole archipelago rather than focusing solely on the larger tourist centres.

68 Charter Sanctioning Proceedings in 2026

Alongside the physical inspections, the Directorate General of Ports and Maritime Transport has opened 68 sanctioning proceedings related specifically to charter activity during 2026.

Importantly, these are administrative proceedings initiated following the examination of inspection material. They should not be described as 68 final sanctions or confirmed violations.

The Government says the inspection acts and complaint bulletins provide the starting information for the subsequent opening of proceedings once the collected documentation has been reviewed.

Charter Register Also Under Scrutiny

The Government has also carried out checks before boats enter or remain on the charter market.

During 2026, 36 vessels were excluded from the charter register because they did not meet the requirements for carrying out the activity.

Authorities have also taken action regarding online advertisements.

Two requests were sent to Airbnb seeking the removal of accommodation offers involving boats, while another request was sent to an online site concerning advertisements for vessels classified under Spain's seventh list that were being offered for rental in the Balearic Islands.

Enforcement Has Increased in Recent Years

The current campaign follows a sharp increase in enforcement activity over recent years.

In 2025, the Balearic Government opened 162 sanctioning proceedings related to maritime transport and boat rental offences.

Proposed sanctions associated with those proceedings amounted to €471,600.01.

The Government says the number of proceedings has increased by 853% since 2019, when 17 proceedings were opened.

These historical figures cover maritime transport and boat-rental infringements more broadly and should not be confused with the 68 charter proceedings opened so far in 2026.

More Inspectors Planned for 2027

The Government is also preparing to increase inspection resources for passenger transport.

Eight new inspection positions are planned for 2027, which the Government says would increase the current inspection workforce in this area by 40%.

The additional positions would include four transport case instructors responsible for processing sanctioning proceedings, two technical transport inspection assistants and two administrative posts.

The planned reinforcement has a budget of €1.1 million.

More Than €2 Million in the ITS Plan

The staffing increase forms part of the 2026-2027 ITS Plan, which allocates more than €2 million to two projects led by the Directorate General of Mobility.

One project focuses directly on inspection personnel, while the second is aimed at improving technological monitoring and detection.

Plans include installing number-plate recognition cameras at ports and at Palma Airport, together with new systems for cross-referencing and analysing data.

The Aim for the Next Season

The Balearic Government says the wider objective is to increase the capacity to detect irregular activity, speed up the processing of administrative proceedings and strengthen deterrence against illegal transport and nautical activity.

For the nautical sector, the new surveillance service represents a significant expansion of on-the-water monitoring, with vessels, drones and administrative checks being used together.

For Ibiza and Formentera, the latest figures show that the Pitiusas have already been included in the intensified programme, with dozens of documented inspection activities carried out during the 2026 summer season.

Increased Monitoring Across the Islands

The Government's latest figures show an inspection system that is broader than a campaign focused solely on illegal boat rentals.

Checks are also covering passenger transport, anchoring, Posidonia protection, mooring fields, vessel documentation and online commercial offers.

The 68 charter sanctioning proceedings opened during 2026 are now moving through the administrative process, while further inspection staff and technology are planned for the 2027 tourist season.