Es Carbó between swimmers and anchor chains: Residents demand more controls

Who protects Es Carbó — swimmers or the boats?

On a bright morning, the surf quiet, the Tramuntana barely noticeable, the air along Es Carbó's promenade smells of sea and — in places — diesel. Children build sandcastles, dogs paddle at the water's edge, and only a few metres away motorboats have dropped anchor and lie almost up to the bathing jetty. The question many ask here is simple and urgent: why do boats repeatedly stay right at the shore, and why does no one intervene decisively, as reported in Trouble in Es Carbó: How many boats can the small bay handle??

The mood on site

“This is not just annoying, it's dangerous,” says Pepe, an old fisherman everyone knows here. He points to laid anchor chains, faint oil stains in the sand and the small metal loops that can tear up the seagrass meadows. Maria, who runs the kiosk on the promenade in summer, recounts a boy who was injured on a line. Between them the murmur of people, the clatter of cups, and now and then the thumping of engines from the water — the tone of anger is clear.

Complaints focus on weekends and mild evenings. Then the noise is louder, the number of boats higher, and the controls — residents say — hardly visible. Some also fear that small violations will become normalized: a makeshift chiringuito was already cleared in June; but the memory of that intervention apparently did not leave a lasting impression.

Often overlooked aspects

Two important points are often missing from the public debate. First: responsibilities. Who has to regulate what — the Policía Local, the harbour authority, the town hall? In many cases different responsibilities clash, and quick response times are not the strength of bureaucratic structures. Second: costs and resources. Patrols, fine procedures, measurements of Posidonia damage — all of this requires staff and money. Without clear prioritization, much remains announcement rather than action.

Another, less often mentioned factor is the knowledge of boaters. Many holidaymakers do not know the local rules; they don't know where the bathing zone ends or how sensitive the Posidonia meadows are, as discussed in Trouble over license-free boat rentals: When Es Carbó becomes a racetrack. Information gaps cause conflicts that could be easily avoided.

Ecology and safety — two sides of the same coin

The consequences are concrete: frequent anchoring damages Posidonia, one of the Mediterranean's most important CO2 sinks, and worsens water quality. For lifeguards, poorly placed moorings reduce visibility; for swimmers the risk of accidents increases. These are not abstract environmental arguments but local safety issues — and therefore direct neighbourhood problems in Es Carbó.

Concrete measures — what would help now

Residents' demands are precise: more patrols by the Policía Local, inspections by the harbour authority, clear markings for bathing zones. In addition, there are technically and organisationally feasible proposals:

1. Visible markings: Floating buoys for bathing zones and clearly signed anchor prohibitions immediately reduce conflicts. They make boundaries understandable for boaters — also for tourists who need quick orientation.

2. Seasonal restrictions: Temporary anchoring bans or reduced anchoring areas could apply during high season and on weekends. This protects the most sensitive times and is administratively easier to implement than a year-round ban.

3. Eco-mooring: Permanently installed moorings protect Posidonia and save costly restoration measures later. Such systems are one-time investments that bring long-term benefits.

4. Awareness-raising: Flyers in marinas, information boards, brief notices at boat rental companies and apps with GPS indications for bathing zones would avoid many conflicts.

5. Clear sanctions: Visible fines and swift enforcement create deterrence. Transparency is important: those sanctioned should know why — this increases acceptance.

6. Citizen participation: Local patrols by trained volunteers or a reporting system for residents could relieve the authorities and increase presence.

Who pays, who decides?

Implementation requires cooperation: town hall, Policía Local, harbour authority and even tourism providers must pull together. The funding question is open — EU environmental funds, municipal funds or contributions from boat rental companies would be possible sources. But without clear responsibility, good proposals remain on paper.

Authorities say they are reviewing cases and monitoring the situation. For many in Es Carbó that is not enough. They want visible buoys, regular weekend patrols and a clear signal: the beach is not a parking lot. Until that happens, tensions on the promenade remain — and the sound of the sea rarely drowns out the residents' frustration.

On site the mood remains pragmatic: people do not want a hysterical ban, but rules that make bathing safer and better protect nature. Such rules should become visible soon — before small annoyances turn into lasting damage.