Everyone knows the natural beauty of Formentera, but not everyone knows that the key to this secret lies in a marine plant: the Posidonia. This plant, which is not algae, has a stem, roots and flower and is the main protagonist of the underwater depths of the island's coasts, being able to be found up to 30 or 40 meters deep. Its exuberance and extension dye to large green areas of the coast and favour a rich marine life, both plant and animal. Posidonia not only helps to fix the sea floor and protect the sandy strips of the beaches, preventing the erosion of the underwater coastline. Its most notable role is its enormous purifying power and the enormous capacity to generate oxygen. Because the plant not only traps carbon from the atmosphere but also favours the transparency of the waters. In fact, on calm days, the underwater visibility of Formentera is truly spectacular and delights both swimmers and diving enthusiasts.
It is no coincidence, therefore, that the Posidonia meadows that stretch between the salt flats of Ibiza and Formentera were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. And it is not unreasonable to consider that same meadow as one of the longest-living organisms in the world as some study has pointed out.
However, Posidonia is fragile and slow growing, and its survival depends on the level of commitment that we are able to achieve as a society to mitigate the effect of our activities. At Mediterranea Pitiusa we are firmly committed to the conservation of the natural environment of Formentera, the land where this company was born, and we apply the utmost rigor in all operating procedures in compliance with environmental standards.
A clear example of this is the latest addition to our fleet: the Aigües de Formentera catamaran. A boat that brings together the latest technology, not only serving the comfort and safety of our passengers, but also the environment. Its fuel consumption is half that of other ships of a similar category, thus saving the emission of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Another example of Mediterranea Pitiusa’s sustainability policy is its participation as an active member of the Plastic Free Ibiza & Formentera organization. A local action initiative that aims to eliminate single-use plastic by 2023. To this end, at Mediterranea Pitiusa we promote sustainable practices aimed at progressively reducing the use of plastic.
Maintaining and protecting the quality of the waters of Formentera implies protecting its flora and fauna, promoting all those spreading actions about the island's natural heritage and helping to raise awareness among residents and visitors to consolidate practices that respect the environment. A commitment that we will undertake like the Formentera shipping company that we are.
