Councillor Lafuente announces the amendment of the Nautical Charter Decree to enhance safety, and sustainability and modernize the management of the sector in the Balearic Islands.

This week will be published on the website of the Directorate General of Ports and Maritime Transport the prior public consultation process for the amendment of Decree 21/2017, of 5 May, which regulates the activity of chartering boats and pleasure boats in the Balearic Islands. The consultation will be open for 10 days, with the aim that citizens, organisations and entities of the sector can express their opinions and provide suggestions on the key points to be addressed in this regulatory amendment.

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The Government begins public consultation to update and improve the regulation of yacht charters

The Minister of the Sea and Water Cycle of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Juan Manuel Lafuente, this morning presented this participatory process at a press conference held at the headquarters of the Conselleria. During his speech, Lafuente stressed that this phase is an opportunity to update the current regulations, adapting them to the new needs arising from the increase in nautical activity in the Balearic Islands. ‘Nautical rental is a strategic activity for our community, both for its economic impact and the need to ensure that it is carried out in a safe, transparent and respectful of the environment,’ said the councillor.

He also insisted on the importance of public participation during this initial stage, as the contributions received will be key to defining the main axes of the future regulatory amendment: ‘We want to listen to all parties involved, from citizens to companies, to build an efficient, modern and sustainable regulation that responds to the current challenges of the sector,’ he added.

The councillor explained that, since the approval of Decree 21/2017, both state and regional regulations have evolved, making it necessary to update them to adjust to the current legal framework. In addition, the notable growth of the nautical rental activity in recent years has generated new needs that need to be regulated.

For his part, the director general of Ports and Maritime Transport, Antoni Mercant, who also took part in the presentation, highlighted the main objectives set out in the prior consultation. Among them, he mentioned the need to strengthen the control of nautical rental, combat professional intrusion and ensure environmental sustainability, as well as facilitate regulatory compliance through more accessible digital tools.

The public consultation process aims to open a space for citizens and interested entities to express their opinions on the issues that could be included or modified in the decree.

Among the issues raised, the following stand out:

Concept of nautical chartering: Specify the scope of this activity to combat illegal chartering and ensure that all operators comply with legal requirements.
Digitisation of procedures: Implement a single telematic system to facilitate the presentation of the responsible declaration and streamline administrative procedures.
Adjustments to requirements and documentation: Adapt the conditions demanded to the new realities of the sector.
Regulation of the Balearic registry of vessels: Creation and development of a specific register that allows for greater control of activities.
Good practices: Promote responsible practices that guarantee the protection of the marine environment and the adequate use of available resources.

The prior public consultation will be available on the Portal of the Directorate General for Maritime Transport, where interested parties will be able to send their proposals through the channels provided. This process will be open for 10 days, allowing the active participation of citizens, associations and companies in the sector.

Once the prior public consultation has been completed, the Government will analyse all the contributions received and will work on drafting the modification of the Decree. This draft will be subject to a public exhibition process and a period will be opened for the presentation of allegations, thus ensuring the continued participation of interested parties before final approval.