MENORCA PRESERVATION

“RADICALLY CHANGING THE WAY WE UNDERSTAND AND PROTECT OUR MARINE ENVIRONMENT”

Those of us who love Menorca and have travelled this beautiful island from one end to the other, know very well that the Sea is one of the island’s most important environmental assets. As oceanographer Dr. Sylvia A. Earle says, “No water, no life. No blue, no green”. Our ocean is the source of life so if we want to protect our environment, it is key that we start doing so by preserving, protecting, and regenerating our marine environments.

In this regard, since our constitution in 2017, we at Menorca Preservation have awarded over 300.000 € to over 35 local initiatives focused on investigating, regenerating and raising awareness about our marine environments and its species. To date, slightly more than 40% of these funds have been allocated to preserve, protect and regenerate natural habitats, while 38% have been used to support marine research and the protection of marine species, whilst the balance has used to support projects related to reducing pollution and further increasing environmental awareness of marine environments.

In addition, the data collected through the first two campaigns has contributed to fundamental management measures aimed at the conservation of Mediterranean Sperm Whales. In February 2022, a petition for the inclusion of the Mediterranean Sperm Whale in the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species (CEA) as “Endangered” was registered at the General Secretariat of Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity.

SEA: MENORCA PRESERVATION SUPPORTED PROJECTS AND THEIR IMPACT

Moby Mummy Campaigns to protect Sperm Whales

We have supported 3 consecutive years of scientific research campaigns carried out by Tursiops Association, that have led to the identification of a very special sperm whale breeding area located in waters to the north of Menorca.

Only in last year’s campaign, Tursiops collected 185 hours of environmental data and sighted a significant number of individuals in the north of Menorca: about 40 sperm whales including 8 calves, most of them in social groups, along with 41 sightings of other marine species. Also, they manifested the high presence of sperm whale calves for the second consecutive year, as well as the high frequency of Risso dolphin encounters.

Marine Research projects to better understand our local marine environment

Menorca is recognised for its crystal-clear waters and beautiful beaches. And in order to understand and mitigate against the detrimental effect of excessive fishing, anchorages on important areas of marine ecosystems, mass tourism, marine pollution and waste, we at Menorca Preservation have awarded more than 100.000 € to thirteen marine research projects carried out by the Socio-environmental Observatory of Menorca (OBSAM).

These projects have contributed to increase our knowledge on the actual conservation status of Menorca’s marine environment: our Posidonia meadows, our fish populations vulnerable to fishing practices and, among others, our shallow bays.

All these studies have contributed to important data that, on one hand, has contributed to the creation of the Marine Reserve of the Isla del Aire, but also, has enabled the OBSAM to develop new projects aimed at conserving and restoring the affected environments, such as the Conservation and Restoration of shallow bays project or the Restoration of Posidonia meadows project, both currently being carried out by OBSAM and supported by Menorca Preservation, among other organisations.

SUPPORTING MENORCA’S YOUNGER GENERATIONS

Kilometres of Plastic for Iris: promoting our local 0 Plastic Warriors

Through this wonderful project carried out by 0 Plastic Menorca, young students between 13 and 19 years old are encouraged to organize conscious walks in nature with friends and family as well as to think about ways to reduce plastic pollution in their islands. This initiative was launched 3 years ago and, by 2023, it is being carried out across the Balearic Islands, in collaboration with Mallorca Preservation and IbizaPreservation, reaching over 400 young students and walking over 30,000km.

Learn through Surfing: More than 500 local students learning about marine conservation and surfing

An educational and sports project run by the Surf and Clean Association, which seeks to improve and strengthen the bond between children and the sea through the practice of surfing and stand-up paddle-boarding. This initiative, first implemented in other regions of Spain, started in Menorca in 2020 and, over these three years, has gradually grown from engaging around 150 students in year one to reaching over 500 in the 3rd edition launched last May.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP PROTECT OUR SEA?

Find and scan the 0 Plastic Experiences and 0 Plastic Menorca will clean-up 1kg of plastic from the Sea!

Menorca Preservation and 0 Plastic Menorca, through our Plastic Free Menorca Alliance, have launched 0 Plastic Experiences, an amazing initiative aimed at promoting experiences for travelers and residents who want to enjoy our beautiful Menorca while reducing their plastic footprint. You can find 0 Plastic Experiences in Plastic Free establishments and activities such as hotels, restaurants, activities, art centers, filtered water fountains and the beaches included in our reusable beach items boxes network... In addition, each 0 Plastic Experience is assigned a star shaped QR code, and by scanning one 0 Plastic Experiences Star, 0 Plastic Menorca will clean-up 1kg of plastic from the Sea!

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Plastic Experiences Map

This initiative is part of a long list of actions focused on reducing the use of plastic on Menorca, worked on during the first year of life of our Plastic Free Menorca Alliance and included in the “Action Plan to reduce plastic pollution in Menorca 2030” developed by the Alliance and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2021. To continue with this roadmap, Menorca Preservation has secured funding from the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030 to continue our support to the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance and to carry out these initiatives.

“We are striving to reduce or even eliminate plastic pollution on our island and in our seas, as well as to help the marine species and coastal birds that die as a result of this human-made pollution.” Dominique, 0 Plastic Warrior - 2023 Edition, Menorca www.menorcapreservation.org

Menorca Preservation exists thanks to strongly committed businesses, fabulous collaborators, wonderful local entities and individuals, like yourself, with a deep connection to Menorca and who wish to preserve its precious environment. If you feel you can support Menorca Preservation or our Plastic Free Menorca Alliance in whichever way, please do reach out to us!