Aim:
To gather and compile all the necessary information in order to carry
out action C.1 :
Installation of Anchoring Points, and to effectively protect the habitat
from the damage caused by yacht anchors.
Development:
The action comprised three phases:
• Phase I. Study of the areas where yachts anchor
in SCI areas.
In each area and sector integrated in the marked zones, the required parameters
were established in order to define which seascapes were most affected
by yacht anchoring at each location. The following data were gathered
and compiled: number of yachts per square metre, length of the yachts,
most common yacht types, type of stay (day-time, full), degree to which
Posidonia fields had been damaged, and distance to nearest ports, among
others, in order to evaluate which areas suffer the most from yachts anchored
in the coves and bays of each SCI area.
Further studies were also carried out on other factors and these contributed,
to a lesser extent, in increasing knowledge about visitors (schedules,
lengths of stay, etc.), The parameters studied were obtained through diverse
techniques such as photos taken from the air in 2000 and 2004 to quantify
the number of boats anchored in each SCI area, observation of the frequency
, the schedule, and the moments of maximum presence of yachts, etc.).
• Phase II. Study of the sea floor (stratum graph
of sea floor) and of marine climate.
Afterwards, and once having pre-selected the sectors most affected by
large numbers of yachts anchoring over Posidonia oceanica fields, a study
of each of the sectors was undertaken in order to gather and compile data
on marine climate and on the stratum of the sea floor. The following areas
were studied:
SCI area: Badies de Pollença i Alcudia –
Punta de l´Avançada
SCI area: Costa de Llevant – Porto Petro
SCI area: Isla Dragonera –Es Pantaleu-Cala Conills
SCI area: Cap Enderrocat-Cap Blanc –Cala Blava
SCI area: Ses Salines d´Eivissa i Formentera – Caló
de s´Oli
SCI area: Ses Salines d´Eivissa i Formentera – Bahía
de s ´Alga
SCI area: Ses Salines d´Eivissa i Formentera – Playa Ses
Salines
SCI area: Marina Nord de Menorca – Bahía de Fornells
SCI area: S´Albufera des Grau – Illa den Colom-Cala Tamarell
The studies carried out on marine climate and on sea
floor stratum provided the parameters to be taken into consideration for
calculating the highest stress the strongest, the effort boats are subjected
to when anchoring in these areas and their pre-dimensioning , and relating
this to the resistance characteristics of the sea floor at each site.
Besides this, maps were drawn up of all existing SCI areas, defining the
characteristics of the benthic community living in said sectors. Once
all parameters were obtained it was possible to proceed to the last phase
in which it was decided which anchoring areas were most suitable, and
therefore defined, in order to protect the fields of Posidonia oceanica.
• Phase III. Defining anchoring areas.
Thanks to the studies and research carried out, it was possible to select
among coves and bays situated within SCI areas, those most affected by
anchor garraring and the consequences of this activity over the Posidonia
fields. The following data were compared and analysed:
- Presence of Posidonia fields and degree of conservation
of the same.
- Number and density of yachts anchoring.
- Proximity to ports.
- Frequency of visitors.
- How easily established anchoring areas can be managed.
- Types of vessels.
- Study of the wave rhythms, sea currents and winds of the area.
Conclusions:
Once the sectors had been definitely selected, the areas in which anchoring
is to be allowed were defined and projected on 9 sectors situated in a
total of 7 SCI areas round the islands.
SCI area :Bays of Pollença and Alcudia –
Punta de l´Avançada
SCI area: East Coast – Porto Petro
SCI area: Dragonera Island- Es Pantaleu- Cala Conills
SCI area: Cap Enderrocat- Cap Blanc- Cala Blava
SCI area: Ses Salines of Ibiza and Formentera- Caló de s’Oli
SCI area: Ses Salines of Ibiza and Formentera -Bay of S’Alga
SCI area: Ses Salines of Ibiza and Formentera- Ses Salines Beach
SCI area: Marina of the North of Minorca- Fornells Bay
SCI area: S’Albufera des Grau- Colom-Cala Tamarells Island
For each of the areas a project for the installation
of anchoring points was drawn up and accompanied by its corresponding
budgets, stipulations, conditions, maps, drafts, and memoir. Included
in these, the following were established : four categories of vessel length
that may be anchored at the different coloured buoys at each of the previewed
allowed areas. (Boat lengths of 8 metres, between 8 and 15 m., between
15 and 25 m., and between 25 and 35 m.)
Anchoring points were installed after obtaining the required administrative
permits from the Demarcación de Costas de Illes Balears and the
Capitanía Marítima en Baleares (Coastline and Maritime Control
Board of the Balearics).
The aim of this action has been fulfilled as the anchoring points have
been appropriately installed on the basis of the collected, compiled and
studied data.
|