Ibiza and Formentera Record 23 Nautical Complaint Notices After 94 Coastal Control Operations

October 23, 2026

Coastal surveillance operations around Ibiza and Formentera resulted in 23 complaint notices between June and October, as the Balearic Islands Government stepped up checks on boat rentals, anchoring practices and the protection of seagrass meadows.

The regional government carried out 94 control operations in the Pitiusas between 22 June and 13 October 2026. The inspections produced 21 inspection reports and 23 complaint notices, according to figures presented at the fifth meeting of the Balearic Nautical Forum.

The campaign covered charter companies, boat anchoring, Posidonia oceanica meadows, buoy fields and other nautical activities along the islands’ coasts.

Checks target boat rentals, anchoring and Posidonia

The coastal surveillance service is intended to identify possible breaches of maritime regulations and improve oversight of activities taking place in busy coastal waters.

Inspections in Ibiza and Formentera included checks on charter operators, anchoring practices and the condition and use of designated buoy fields. Protecting Posidonia oceanica, a seagrass species that plays an important role in Mediterranean marine ecosystems, was also among the areas covered.

However, the government has not disclosed how the 23 complaint notices were divided between the different types of activity. It has also not confirmed how many resulted in sanctions.

The figures therefore show the volume of enforcement activity and complaints issued, rather than a confirmed count of individual offences or completed penalties.

New qualification requirement for small rental boats

A change to the rules for small motorboats came into force on 1 October 2026. Anyone operating a rented motorboat measuring up to five metres in length and with a maximum power of 15 CV must now hold the appropriate nautical qualification.

The exemption that previously applied to these small boats remains in place for private use, but no longer applies when they are rented out.

The change was discussed at the Nautical Forum amid wider concerns about safety and irregular practices in the charter sector.

Balearic authorities report 95 sanctioning proceedings

Across the Balearic Islands, the Directorate General for Ports and Maritime Transport had initiated 95 sanctioning proceedings by 16 October 2026. Around 130 additional proceedings relating to events during the summer were still awaiting initiation.

These figures cover the wider archipelago and should not be confused with the 23 complaint notices recorded in Ibiza and Formentera.

The regional government also reported action against two companies that had advertised rental boats registered for private use. Preliminary proceedings led to the removal of the advertisements, while a separate sanctioning proceeding concerning the rental of boats in that category remained in progress.

Nautical sector calls for stronger oversight

At the meeting, industry associations raised concerns about practices they considered irregular, including selling individual places on boats intended for charter, using privately registered vessels for commercial activity, and embarking or disembarking passengers at unauthorised locations.

The associations called for stronger coordination between public authorities, closer monitoring of boat-rental listings on digital platforms and a more comprehensive plan to tackle unauthorised nautical activity.

The discussions also covered the second edition of the Balearic Blue Week, an educational initiative that involved 5,779 pupils from 101 schools, with participation from 28 nautical clubs and marinas.

For 2027, the government is considering expanding activities in Formentera, increasing opportunities for adapted nautical sports and reviewing transport funding to help schools facing higher travel costs.

The latest figures highlight the scale of coastal monitoring across Ibiza and Formentera, while leaving open important questions about the specific alleged infringements behind the complaint notices and their eventual outcomes.

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