Formentera expands swimming zones at beaches and coves

foto centre nautic obres1Formentera's Office of Environment reports that bidding has begun to enlist a company in placing buoys across Formentera's coastal waters.

The Council oversees yearly efforts to place buoys at beaches, coves and swimming areas. This year, the effort has been expanded to include Punta Rasa and es Caló d'en Trui (Cala Saona), es Caló de Sant Agustí, es Pujols, Punta Prima, es Caló des Mort (Migjorn) and Llevant. The expansion is aimed at creating zones where snorkelers can safely enjoy nearby undersea flora and fauna.

Environment secretary Daisee Aguilera noted that beaches are principally intended for swimmers. She added that buoying operations, in addition to promoting healthier undersea habitats, are about “showcasing the island's most iconic spaces by safeguarding nearby meadows of posidonia seagrass, home to scores of living things”.

Aguilera pointed out that the Council is limited in terms of the action it can take to prevent hordes of yachts accumulating on the island's coastline. The secretary described the buoys as “boundaries in an area often overrun by watercraft that come too close and imperil swimmers” and asserted they had “no impact on seagrass meadows below”.

The department has a yearly budget of €53,261 (VAT included) for buoying efforts. When granted, the contract will last two years with possibility of one two-year extension. The deadline to apply is Monday, February 26. Full details on the offer are available at http://www.caib.es/eboibfront/mob/visor.do?lang=ca&mode=view&idEnviament=605390