Alcúdia, Muro and Santa Margalida are working with government bodies and scientific institutions to investigate coastal erosion, changing sand levels and flooding across one of Mallorca’s most important bays. But what will happen next?
The future of Alcúdia Bay is the focus of a new collaborative initiative bringing together three municipalities, the Balearic government, scientific organisations and representatives of the tourism and maritime sectors.
Presented on 24 September 2026, the General Action Protocol for the Stabilisation and Recovery of Alcúdia Bay aims to investigate the changes affecting the coastline and identify potential measures to protect it.
The initiative involves the municipalities of Alcúdia, Muro and Santa Margalida, whose coastlines form part of the wider bay. The project also brings together the Consell de Mallorca, the Balearic government, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, the University of the Balearic Islands and several scientific research organisations.
The collaboration reflects growing concern about the condition of the coastline, including the loss and accumulation of sand, coastal erosion and flooding.
However, the first step is understanding exactly what is happening, why it is happening and which interventions, if any, would be appropriate.
Why is Alcúdia Bay being studied?
The bay is an important natural, economic and tourism area in northern Mallorca. Its coastline includes the beaches of Alcúdia, Playa de Muro and Can Picafort, alongside the Port of Alcúdia and surrounding coastal habitats.
According to the authorities involved, the area is experiencing different coastal changes, with concerns including the retreat of sections of coastline, imbalances in sediment movement and the accumulation of sand in certain locations.
These processes can have consequences for beaches, port operations, coastal ecosystems and businesses that depend on the coastline.
However, coastal erosion is rarely explained by one factor alone. Waves, currents, storms, sediment movement, coastal infrastructure and longer-term environmental changes can all influence how a coastline evolves.
The authorities have therefore stressed the importance of scientific investigation before deciding which measures should be taken.
What does the new protocol involve?
A technical working group is expected to investigate the causes of the changes affecting the bay, examine sediment imbalances and identify areas where action may be needed.
Its responsibilities include:
Investigating coastal erosion, changes in sand distribution and flooding.
Identifying and prioritising potential interventions.
Developing a medium and long-term planning framework.
Determining which administrations are responsible for individual projects and what approvals would be required.
Identifying possible funding sources and monitoring any measures eventually implemented.
Scientific organisations involved include the Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System (SOCIB), the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA), the University of the Balearic Islands and the Environmental Hydraulics Institute of Cantabria.
Their participation is important because understanding the movement of sand and the behaviour of the coastline is essential to assessing which responses might be effective.
Does this mean work will begin on the beaches?
Not yet.
Although the protocol is intended to move towards practical solutions, its presentation does not constitute approval for a specific construction project, beach-restoration scheme or coastal engineering intervention.
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Why does this matter?
The condition of Alcúdia Bay affects more than the appearance of its beaches.
The coastline supports tourism, local businesses, recreational activities, maritime operations and important natural environments. Changes to the distribution of sand can create different challenges in different parts of the same bay.
For residents, the key questions include whether the research will lead to effective long-term coastal management, how vulnerable areas will be identified and how decisions will balance environmental protection with the needs of local communities.
For businesses, particularly those connected to tourism and maritime activity, the outcome could have implications for the long-term management of the coastal area.
What happens next?
The technical working group’s work will be central to the next stage. Its findings should help establish which sections of coastline require attention, what factors are contributing to the changes and which responses merit further assessment.
The next important milestones will be the publication of technical findings, the identification of priority projects and clarification of how those projects could be funded and delivered.
For Alcúdia, Muro and Santa Margalida, the challenge now is to turn cooperation and scientific investigation into a clear, evidence-based plan for the future of the bay.
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