The solution will allow the traditional use to be preserved while the final concession process by PortsIB continues.

The Minister of the Sea and the Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, participated this Thursday in Menorca in an institutional work day held at the headquarters of the Island Council, which began with a first meeting focused on the situation of the port of Sanitja, in the municipality of Es Mercadal, with the aim of advancing in a solution that will unblock a scenario that has been ongoing for years.

This situation has been aggravated recently by the removal of the boats that occupied this enclave in compliance with the order of the Coastal Demarcation, executed between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026 within the framework of sanctioning proceedings, leaving a traditional space unused and highlighting the urgency of finding a solution.

This first meeting was attended by the Minister of the Environment, Simón Gornés; the Director General of Coasts and Littoral of the Government, Xima Ferrer; the Island Director of the General State Administration in Menorca, Clara Mayans; the Provincial Head of the Coastal Demarcation, Jorge Miguel Ortega; as well as municipal representatives, users and the sector.

During the meeting, a solution was jointly addressed based on the possibility of establishing a temporary authorization that allows the existing infrastructure to be maintained without modifications, while the processing of the definitive administrative concession continues.

This alternative is presented as an immediate response to a long-standing demand from local users and as a tool to guarantee the continuity of an activity linked to the traditional use of the site. Sanitja is considered one of the spaces that best represents the unique character of Menorca, so the shared objective is to preserve its character without introducing changes that could cause greater environmental damage.

The regional minister stressed that “we are facing a situation that requires swift and realistic solutions. We cannot allow administrative procedures to leave users without answers for years,” and added that “temporary authorization is the fastest and most viable way to maintain what already exists, without increasing the impact, while we work towards a permanent solution.”

The Government, through Ports de les Illes Balears (PortsIB), maintains its commitment to promoting the administrative concession of the area, as established by the General Ports Plan approved in 2023, which foresees the transfer of the Sanitja water body to this public entity with the aim of guaranteeing the continuity of traditional uses, without expansions or new actions.

In this regard, PortsIB will continue processing the concession and will forward the necessary documentation to rectify the current administrative situation. However, this is a complex procedure that could take several years, so both administrations agree on the need to implement temporary solutions to prevent the activity from coming to a standstill.

It has also been noted that this temporary authorization is conditional upon the continuation of the concession process, so that both paths advance in parallel and with the ultimate goal of providing Sanitja with a stable framework and legal certainty.

The councilor insisted that “maintaining the current facilities without modifications is the option with the least environmental impact and the one that best reflects the spirit of preserving this space as the people of Menorca know it,” and stressed the Government's commitment to “do everything possible to ensure this solution is implemented as quickly as possible.”

Following this first meeting focused on Sanitja, the councilor participated in a coordination meeting with the State Coastal Demarcation, the Island Council of Menorca and the municipalities of the island, in which the situation of the coastline was addressed from a global perspective.

During this meeting, the town councils expressed their concern about the current management model, noting that "it makes no sense for the Coastal Authority to keep the fee while the municipalities have to assume the maintenance costs."

In this context, the regional minister described the meeting as “very positive and necessary from a practical standpoint,” emphasizing that it has allowed for “greater coordination among all levels of government.” He also stressed the importance of “defining a roadmap for each municipality” and reiterated the regional government's commitment to “processing the high volume of requests from both town councils and individuals as quickly and efficiently as possible,” with the aim of “expediting authorizations and administrative procedures as much as possible.”

Subsequently, the councillor held a meeting with the Menorca Hotel Association (Ashome) and representatives of the sector, in which the importance of the coastline as a key element for the economic and tourist activity of the island was highlighted.

In this context, Lafuente emphasized that coastal management requires not only coordination but also sufficient resources. He noted that the State collects over €12 million annually in the Balearic Islands in fees for the occupation of the public maritime-terrestrial domain, yet these revenues are not translated into visible investments in coastal improvement and protection. “The current model creates a clear imbalance: This situation must be corrected, and we must ensure that these resources are reinvested in the conservation and improvement of our coastline,” he stated.

The councilor concluded by calling for greater involvement from the State and more effective coordination to address the challenges of the Balearic coast, especially in a context marked by the effects of storms and increasing pressure on the coast.