Portocolom residents protest to protect traditional wooden boats

Approximately 300 people gathered in Portocolom to protest against conditions imposed by Ports de les Illes Balears (PortsIB) that threaten the survival of traditional wooden boats. The demonstration, organized by the Associació de Barques Tradicionals de Portocolom, highlights a crisis regarding the preservation of maritime heritage in Mallorca.

Protesters are demanding affordable mooring rates and permanent docking rights. Current regulations for restored shipyard sheds include an annual fee of 2,862.31 euros, but only allow boats to remain in the water for four months at sa Bassa Nova and six months at es Babo. The association warns that these terms are “unaffordable” for many families and that keeping wooden boats out of the water for extended periods can accelerate physical deterioration.

Portocolom currently holds 197 traditional vessels, representing more than one-third of the remaining stock in Mallorca. The group is calling for social tariffs, priority for wooden boats, and management of local spaces based on cultural value rather than purely commercial criteria.