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Plans for artificial reef off the coast of Calvia, Mallorca
Last week the regional government voted in favour of creating an artificial reef for divers off the coast of Calvia, Mallorca. The plan to sink the frigate ‘Baleares' and create the underwater attraction was first proposed by the Council of Calvia in 2005. Having secured a majority vote, the Tourism Commission will now push the Ministry of Defence to get the controversial project up and running again.
The federation of diving centres in the Balearics said that projects of this nature typically attract high spending tourists. And Partido Popular MP, Oscar Fidalgo, an avid supporter of the plan since its inception, is adamant that the reef would not damage the environment.
Those opposing the plan, including the socialist MP Bel Olivier, argue that the project would put off the very kind of tourist that the island hopes to attract. He added that the reef would cost around 2 million euros, a sum many feel is unjustifiable in the current climate. The Balearic conservationist group, GOB, have also spoken out against the plans.
