Regional Minister Juan Manuel Lafuente presents the solution that will allow port activity to continue while the final procedures are underway.

The Balearic Islands Government has resolved the administrative issues surrounding the port of Sanitja with a solution that will allow the 41 existing mooring points to be maintained for the next three years. The announcement was made this morning at the port itself by the Minister of the Sea and the Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, accompanied by the Mayor of Es Mercadal, Joan Palliser; the Es Mercadal City Councillor, Tóbal Pons; and the President of the Sanitja Port Users Association, Bep Riudavets.

The measure puts an end to a situation of uncertainty that affected port users after the process of regularizing the occupation of the public maritime-terrestrial domain began in this enclave on the north coast of Menorca.

The solution has been made possible thanks to the coordinated work carried out over the last few months between the Government of the Balearic Islands, the Directorate General of Coasts and the Coastline, the Coastal Demarcation, the Island Council of Menorca, the Mercadal Town Council, and the Sanitja Port Users Association. This joint effort has allowed the necessary procedures to be completed to enable the maintenance of the moorings while the final administrative process continues.

During this process, it has been necessary to gather and incorporate numerous sector-specific reports due to the unique nature of Sanitja, an enclave that combines significant environmental, heritage, archaeological, and scenic values. Competent bodies in the areas of natural environment, marine biodiversity, maritime safety, port management, and local administration have participated in the proceedings. Furthermore, the legal and technical complexity of the project has required the analysis of various alternatives to ensure a solution compatible with current regulations and the preservation of the area's values.

Based on these reports and the work carried out by the various administrations involved, a solution has been put together that allows the existing moorings to be maintained while guaranteeing the protection of the public maritime-terrestrial domain and the environmental and heritage values ​​present in the area.

The temporary authorization also includes a series of conditions designed to guarantee the conservation of this area. Among other measures, it establishes a prohibition on creating new access points or expanding existing facilities, the obligation to have adequate means to prevent potential pollution incidents, and the adoption of measures for the proper management of waste generated by port activity. These conditions allow for the maintenance of moorings while preserving the natural, scenic, and cultural values ​​that characterize the Sanitja area.

Lafuente emphasized that "the Government's priority has been to find a solution that allows for the preservation of Sanitja's traditional uses with full legal guarantees and respect for the environmental and heritage values ​​of this unique enclave." The Minister added that "collaboration between administrations has been fundamental in reaching an agreement that provides security and stability for port users."

The port of Sanitja is one of the most unique natural shelters on the north coast of Menorca. Historically used as a refuge for boats against the Tramuntana storms, it plays a strategic role for those who use this area of ​​the coastline and retains significant historical and heritage value linked to the island's maritime activity.

The temporary authorization will allow the current mooring points to be maintained for a period of three years while the necessary actions continue to consolidate a stable solution for the port within the current regulatory framework.