Residents of Alcúdia report the proliferation of illegal moorings in bathing areas

The appearance of an illegally moored llaüt in Es Clot has raised alarms among bathers. Residents and bathers report a lack of intervention from Costas.

The arrival of summer has once again brought a recurring problem to the coasts of Alcúdia: the proliferation of recreational boats illegally moored in bathing areas. The latest alert was triggered by the appearance of a considerable-sized llaüt in Es Clot, a beach traditionally used by bathers where until now only small boats and jet skis were moored.

Residents of the urbanisations of Es Morer Vermell, Es Clot, and Es Barcarès have expressed their discontent over a situation they consider unsustainable. The seabed in front of these areas is littered with makeshift concrete moorings, often made with blocks and wheels filled with this material, whose chains damage marine biodiversity.

One of the main problems, according to residents, is safety. The boats, to reach open sea, have to navigate among people who are swimming or diving. "Many do so at inappropriate speeds, which puts the safety of those in the water at risk," bathers point out.

The situation has led to comparisons with other areas of the island. Residents lament that in Alcúdia there has been no intervention from the Costas authorities like the one that took place this week in Portocolom or in previous years in Port de Pollença, where illegal moorings are a historic problem. Occasionally, during storms, these boats break loose and end up stranded or sunk, generating an economic cost for their removal. Recently, one has drifted across the bay of Pollença and crashed against the rocks on the coast of Alcúdia, transferring the problem to the neighbouring municipality.

The councillor for Police and Tourism of Alcúdia, Juan Sendín, has acknowledged the municipality's limitations in taking action. "They would need to have an inflatable boat and right now they don’t have one," he explained, adding that "Costas has been notified, but so far no action has been taken."

The lack of available moorings throughout Mallorca, along with a clearly insufficient number of inspectors to cover the entire coastline, are at the root of a problem that repeats every summer and is on the rise. Residents are calling for an urgent solution to protect both the safety of bathers and the marine environment.