Posidonia Oceanica is a seagrass species that is endemic to the Mediterranean sea. It forms underwater meadows that are a vital part of the marine ecosystem and is therefore protected under environmental legislation.
Vessels are strictly forbidden from dropping anchor, or any part of the anchor chain, on the seagrass.
Because superyachts are the preserve of the wealthy, the fines for anchoring on posidonia can be truly eye-watering, by any measure. To add insult to injury, yachts are also named and shamed by the authorities via social media. The ultimate sanction for the most egregious offenders can be a custodial sentence, so it is vital that you take the utmost care when anchoring.
Each season, hundreds of boats are moved on by officers from Guardia Civil, while transgressions are tracked via AIS and fines can be issued retrospectively.
The good news is that fines and sanctions are entirely avoidable. As Balearic experts, ESTELA keep abreast of local rules and regulations, ensuring that our clients know to avoid anchoring in forbidden locations.
The Balearic government has published updated information to guide captains with anchoring around these islands, buoy booking and more.
For general information about the protected posidonia sea grass, visit: https://atlasposidonia.com/en/good-practices/
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ADVISORY: The islands’ Posidonia Surveillance Service operates a fleet of 20 patrol boats, tasked with monitoring navigation and providing anchorage guidance. The service is available in Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.
The surveillance team can be reached on VHF CHANNEL 68 and by mobile telephone or WhatsApp on +34 617 975 172. Their email is atlasposidonia@gmail.com.
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To access the dedicated map online, visit: https://ideib.caib.es/posidonia/, though it should be noted that this information is not 100% complete and as seagrass is a living organism, fields may develop in unmapped areas. There is no substitute for checking underwater.
For more maps, visit https://estelashipping.es/mallorca-posidonia-maps/
Install the posidonia mobile app
As a first step, we strongly recommend that you install the official posidonia mobile app, which is designed to help you avoid the seagrass. Being an organism, the exact plant locations are variable, so the maps in the app are only as good as their latest manual update. It mustn’t be taken as gospel, in other words, but it is a worthwhile first step.
