In 2025, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Palma de Mallorca assisted 6,310 people in the Balearic Islands—a 29% increase from 2024—during 733 operations. Recreational boating accounted for the majority of incidents, while assistance provided to boats carrying irregular migrants increased by 60%.
Maritime Rescue and Assistance in the Balearic Islands
In 2025, the Maritime Rescue Service coordinated the rescue, assistance, and search operations for 6,310 people in Balearic waters. This 29% increase compared to 2024 reflects the intensification of maritime activity and the greater presence of recreational vessels. Of the total incidents, 52% were related to recreational boating, while merchant and fishing vessels were also involved in accidents, with 20 and 21 vessels, respectively.
Emergencies Related to Irregular Immigration in the Balearic Islands
Last year, the Maritime Rescue Service rescued 4,102 people from 267 irregular vessels in the Balearic Islands, a 60% increase compared to 2024. These operations are part of an ongoing effort to ensure the safety of people attempting to reach the islands by sea, highlighting the response capabilities of the coordination center in Palma de Mallorca.
National Maritime Rescue Operations in 2025
Across Spain, the Maritime Rescue Service assisted 41,387 people in 7,347 operations during 2025, which amounts to an average of 113 people per day. The incidents involved 3,037 recreational vessels, 568 merchant ships, and 500 fishing vessels, while rescue operations for irregular migrants reached 13,952 people on 760 vessels, representing a 42% decrease compared to the previous year.
Maritime Traffic Control and Safety at Sea
Maritime Rescue centers monitored the passage of 154,353 vessels through the Traffic Separation Schemes (Fisterra, Tarifa, Cabo de Gata, and the Canary Islands) and 154,030 vessels entering and leaving ports. These operations enhance maritime safety and prevent accidents in areas with high traffic density.
Maritime Rescue and Environmental Protection
In 2025, Maritime Rescue Service aircraft and satellites monitored more than 226 million km² of ocean, an area equivalent to 447 times the size of Spain. In addition, the agency responded to 394 incidents related to marine environmental protection, reinforcing its commitment to a safer and cleaner ocean for everyone.
