Balearic signs up for EU clean marina project

The Balearics yesterday signed up to a new European Union clean ports initiative. Along with Cantabria and Cataluña in Spain, the Algarve in Portugal and Languedoc Roussillon in France, the Balearics will be joining forces to improve the management and control of marinas and ports. The clean ports project will cost four million euros (665 million euros) but the European Union has agreed to cover 75 per cent of the environmental project's costs. The first phase of the initiative will involve 70 ports and marinas across the five regions. The project is aimed at “non industrial ports” such as fishing ports and marinas. Each of the 70 ports will be fitted with special “clean points” which will be able to handle 18 different types of waste from engine oils to batteries and other nautical industry waste. Environmental ministers meeting yesterday to sign the accord agreed that all five of the regions have large tourist industries which put great pressure on the environment. Part of the EU project will also involve increasing the recreational marine and fishing sector's awareness of the need to protect the environment, what they can do and how to make the maximum use of all the new waste collection and treatment facilities which will be installed in the participating ports. The finalised project will be presented next month and will be introduced at the end of the summer.