The Balearic Government has stepped up its monitoring of maritime activities in Ibiza and Formentera, with the new Coastal Control and Surveillance Service carrying out 66 actions and issuing 14 denunciation notices between June 22 and September 14.

The figures form part of the first full season of the new surveillance service, which is aimed at tackling irregular maritime activity and strengthening controls along the islands' coastlines.

27 Days of Activity in Ibiza and Formentera

In Ibiza and Formentera, the service operated on 27 documented days between June 22 and September 14.

During that period, inspectors carried out 66 actions, raised 19 inspection records and issued 14 denunciation notices.

The figures cover maritime checks carried out by the coastal surveillance service and should not be interpreted as 66 confirmed cases of illegal charter.

What Inspectors Were Checking

The surveillance operation covers several areas of maritime activity.

Inspectors monitor charter operations, vessel documentation and safety conditions, anchoring, protection of Posidonia seagrass, passenger transport and boarding activity, as well as the operation of designated mooring fields.

Within charter inspections, the Govern says officers detected vessels operating without having submitted the required declaration of responsibility or without being registered in the appropriate register.

Other irregularities included missing mandatory identification, incomplete or inconsistent contracts, incomplete commercial documentation and skippers without the required qualifications.

Drones Added to the Surveillance Operation

The new service has also incorporated drones into selected operations.

According to the Govern, the technology allows inspectors to monitor areas that are difficult to access directly, follow vessels and anchoring activity over a wider area and collect photographs, coordinates and other documentation.

That material can subsequently be incorporated into administrative proceedings where potential irregularities are identified.

68 Charter Sanctioning Proceedings Across the Balearics

The coastal inspections form only part of the wider enforcement system.

Across the Balearic Islands, the Directorate General for Ports and Maritime Transport had initiated 68 sanctioning proceedings related specifically to charter activity during 2026 by the September 21 update.

These proceedings cover the whole archipelago, not just Ibiza and Formentera.

The Government explains that inspection records and denunciation notices provide the starting information for possible sanctioning proceedings, after the documentation collected during inspections has been examined.

36 Vessels Removed From the Charter Register

The enforcement campaign also includes checks before vessels begin operating commercially.

During 2026, the Govern says 36 vessels were excluded from the charter register because they did not meet the requirements to carry out the activity.

Authorities have also intervened in online commercial listings.

Two requests were sent to Airbnb seeking the removal of accommodation offers involving boats, while another request was made to a website carrying advertisements for seventh-list vessels being offered for rental in the Balearic Islands.

More Than 1,358 Checks Across the Islands

The figures from the Pitiusas form part of a much larger operation throughout the Balearic Islands.

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

Those operations resulted in 128 inspection records and 39 denunciation notices.

The service currently operates with 22 vessels distributed among the different islands and coordinated through a central control centre.

Mallorca and Menorca Also Under Surveillance

Mallorca accounted for the largest volume of activity.

Between June 4 and September 14, inspectors carried out more than 1,231 checks over 72 days, producing 74 inspection records and 16 denunciation notices.

In Menorca, the service recorded 48 days of activity between May 27 and September 13, with 61 actions, 35 inspection records and nine denunciation notices.

The figures show how the new surveillance system has been deployed across the three main island groups.

Enforcement Has Increased in Recent Years

The latest figures form part of a wider rise in maritime enforcement.

In 2025, the Balearic Government initiated 162 sanctioning proceedings related to infringements involving maritime transport and boat rental, with proposed sanctions totalling €471,600.01.

According to the Govern, the number of sanctioning proceedings had risen by 853% since 2019, when 17 proceedings were initiated.

The figures relate to the wider Balearic Islands and should not be interpreted as a measure of illegal charter activity in Ibiza alone.

Eight More Inspection Posts Planned for 2027

The Govern is also preparing to expand the inspection workforce.

Eight new inspection posts are planned for 2027, representing a 40% increase in the current staffing level for transport inspection.

The additional personnel will include four transport inspectors responsible for processing sanctioning proceedings, two technical transport-inspection assistants and two administrative positions.

The Government expects the new staff to be in place for the next tourist season.

More Than €2 Million for Inspection Resources

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

Around €1.1 million is earmarked for the new inspection posts.

A further €1 million will strengthen technological monitoring, including licence-plate recognition cameras at ports and at Mallorca Airport, together with new systems for cross-checking and analysing data.

A Broader Maritime Enforcement Programme

The latest operation represents a broader approach to maritime enforcement than simply targeting charter companies.

The Coastal Control and Surveillance Service is also responsible for monitoring anchoring, Posidonia protection, passenger transport and mooring fields.

For Ibiza and Formentera, the September figures provide the first full-season snapshot of the new service's activity, with 27 operational days, 66 actions, 19 inspection records and 14 denunciation notices between June 22 and September 14.

The Balearic Government says the surveillance programme will continue to be strengthened, with more personnel and technological resources planned for the 2027 season.