Inspections and sanctions relating to nautical activities resulted in 162 cases in 2025, initiated for offences mainly linked to boat hire, the Balearic Regional Ministry of the Sea reported during Thursday’s meeting of the Nautical Committee.
Last December, the Department had already reported on these 162 cases, with proposed fines totalling €471,600, of which 95 relate to minor offences, 63 to serious offences and 4 to very serious offences. As for the origin of the proceedings, 116 cases stemmed from reports or complaints filed by the Guardia Civil or by the Customs Surveillance Service of the Special Delegation of the AEAT, and 46 from inspections carried out by technicians from the Directorate-General for Ports and Maritime Transport, both documentary and on board vessels.
The Regional Ministry stated on Thursday that it considers this inspection activity “a key tool for improving regulatory compliance and strengthening safety at sea”. The fourth session of the Balearic Islands Nautical Committee focused on the challenges facing a growing sector under increasing pressure on the coastline and the need to move towards better regulation of nautical activities, despite differing views on regulation, particularly in the area of yacht charter.
They analysed the current regulatory situation regarding chartering, marked by the approval of Decree 44/2025, which regulates the activity and establishes requirements such as registration on the sixth list or restrictions on certain commercial practices. Several legal appeals are currently pending, highlighting the complexity and sensitivity of this regulation within the sector.
Regarding the comments submitted on the draft Royal Decree on the merchant navy, the Balearic government highlights the need to preserve regional powers in the regulation of nautical activities, whilst ensuring legal certainty and regulatory consistency.
During the debate, different views were put forward on how to reconcile the sector’s development with the coastline’s carrying capacity, as well as on the most appropriate measures to correct irregular practices and ensure balanced competition. The meeting also addressed the organisation of the 2nd Balearic Blue Week, in which more than 5,600 students and 29 facilities are expected to participate.