The number of boats using ecological moorings has risen yet again. In 2008 the figure rose by 26% and the signs are that this rate of increase will carry on into 2009. According to Marine Director Tomeu Calafell the two most popular spots are at Porto Petro and Cala Blava, with demand surging at weekends.

Ecological mooring involves fixing a boat to a permanent buoy, thus eliminating the need for an anchor, which can damage the sensitive ecology of the sea floor as it gets dragged around.

Mallorca’s ecological moorings are a free service that have been operating since 2006, and Calafell estimates that around 17,000 vessels make use of them each season, with 40 percent of users at any one time doing so for the first time. Currently there are 725 ecological buoys around the island, with the aim of protecting the Posidonia sea meadows that are easily damaged by anchors. Calafell says that the results so far have been ‘very encouraging’.

The soaring demand has placed pressure on the Environment Department to construct more ecological moorings and produce a new design.

The Balearic islands’ economic reliance on tourism makes them especially vulnerable to global warming, a new report from the EU states. The report, ´Regions 2020’, focuses on the different regions of Europe and assesses their vulnerability. The Balearics, it warns, will suffer from an increasing incidence of violent rains, droughts and rising summer temperatures, making them an unattractive destination for holidaymakers.

Any downturn in the tourism industry is likely to hit the islands´ economies hard, the report states. An over-reliance on the tourist dollar has led the region to possess one of the least skilled and educated workforces in Europe, meaning it is least able to adapt to new economic circumstances.

Another worrying factor is the distribution of human settlements, all of which are clustered around the coast or fragile river systems, and are thus more vulnerable to water and energy shortages. The authors of the report have developed a vulnerability index to take all of these factors into account, in which the islands score badly, with almost all regions in western Europe coming out better off. A lack of energy efficiency and over-reliance on fossil fuels are also noted with respect to the islands.

To conclude, the report states that there is a situation of declining international competitiveness caused by the rigidity of the economic system which is likely to agitate social problems.

The Government is committed to expanding the protection of the marine national park following ecological study

A study by the environmental organization Oceana, which sampled about 8,000 hectares to the north, south and east of the Cabrera national park in 2007, has identified a dozen ecosystems and nearly three hundred species. This demonstrates the natural wealth and biodiversity hidden on the seabed adjacent to the national sea and land park and the need to expand their protection, the group says.

Xavier Pastor, executive director of Oceana Europe, has seen the devastating effects that the nets from trawlers have had on the area. The Minister of Environment, Miquel Angel Grimalt, who supported the presentation of the Cabrera study, has pledged to extend the protection of these marine areas as a result of the findings.

Ricardo Aguilar, the research director aboard the catamaran Oceana Ranger, used an underwater robot operated by remote control to capture images at depths of up to 600 metres. The survey revealed the areas of the greatest ecological value are found to the east of the protected area of the park.

“Here we found spectacular corals that housed a large number of species. We saw red and black corals – both of which are in danger of extinction. In this same area and north of the protected area we found areas covered in maerl – a rare type of calcified seaweed that is not anchored to the sea bed and that generates a high biological diversity,” he explained.

“We also discovered forests of laminaria – a type of brown algae and the largest of the species endemic to the Mediterranean, but, as with the fields of maerl, they were quite damaged as a result of the practice of trawling,” said the head of the study.

Aguilar also said they found “garbage in a widespread manner in all places surveyed. We discovered such unusual objects as chairs and hammocks in the deep,” He said.

This study sheds some light on the wealth of hitherto unexplored areas and the need to protect them in order to preserve the biodiversity they are home to. Asked about the possibility of extending the area of protection adjacent to the park from professional fishermen, Miquel Angel Grimalt responded “the effect has been demonstrated of these reserves on the surrounding areas, so I do not think that a measure of this type unjustified.”

Referring to a directive that would urge countries to protect 10% of their coastal waters by 2012 Xavier Pastor added “The Balearics protects just 1% of its seas and there are many areas that should be preserved. In the channel between Mallorca and Ibiza there are some very interesting areas that could shape a future submarine national park for Mallorca.”

The Cabrera National Park is to the south of Mallorca and is made up of 19 small islands and isles with an area of 1,318 hectares on land, as well as the sea area that surrounds them, with a maritime area of 8,703 hectares. (JH)

The Yacht Club at Port of Sóller has proposed the laying down of a marine conservation area to protect the biodiversity off the north coast. The proposed area would stretch from Ses Punte to the Na Mora canyon and would cover around 100 hectares. Proponents argue that it is an area in which biodiversity is particularly high, but where stocks, however, are threatened by over fishing. A protected area could also attract increased recreational divers, they argue. The proposal will now be submitted to the Balearic and the Spanish Environment Ministry.

According to the environmentalists, the expansion work has already caused serious damage to the sea grass meadow and that unless steps are taken to protect the area, its future is in danger.

A bank of 50 solar panels was switched on at the Son Castello industrial estate in Palma yesterday by the Balearic Minister for Commerce and Industry, Francesca Vives.

The new solar panel park has been installed on top of a local kindergarten in the area in an attempt to not only set an example to the local business community but also enable youngsters to witness the benefits of the solar energy which will now power the school. “We want this to send a double message to the next generation as part of our bid to create a more environmentally sustainable island,” she said.