Bartomeu Escandell, the councillor of the president's office of the Formentera Council, met today with Ramón García, president of the college of veterinarians of the Balearic Islands. Escandell described the day's gathering as the first contact in what would hopefully lead to cooperation between the two groups. The goal behind the partnership, said Escandell, is to push for animal welfare and, in so doing, for public health in general. The councillor also spoke to the veterinarians about Formentera's project to revive the island's farming sector. 

In a statement issued today, the Formentera Council’s presidential office announced that from May 11, a staff member from the Balearic Islands tax office will be available on the island to help residents file their easy-file tax claims here on the island. By calling 971 76 76 76, residents can request an appointment with the tax office representative for assistance filing their 2015 declaration. The office is open from 9.30am to 2.00pm and again from 3.00 to 6.30pm, on carrer Eivissa, number 9, May 11 through June 30.

Gathered this morning in the Formentera Council (CiF) plenary hall, CiF president Jaume Ferrer and Santi Tur, president of the island's group of livestock farmers, put their signatures on a partnership agreement for animal health.

The agreement is valid through December 31, 2016, and promises €37,000 in financing for the Associació de Ramaders de Formentera. The association will use the money to purchase vaccines and set in motion a campaign for animal health, an initiative the group will undertake with a veterinary office.

Ferrer called the cooperative alliance a source of pride and Tur described it as “indispensable”. Councillor of farming, livestock and fishing, Bartomeu Escandell, was also present at the signing. He hinted that an additional, one-off aide package was in the works for later this year. “Harvests this year are expected to be affected by the drought,” said the councillor, “so we've put in an order for animal feed.”

As of yesterday, the Formentera Council's lifeguard and rescue services are once again present on the island's beaches. The announcement came earlier today from the CiF president's office, with an indication from department head Bartomeu Escandell that service would run from May 1 through October 31 of this year. Eight lifeguards and one supervisor took to their stations on Sunday and the service's ranks will gradually fill out until the height of the season, when 15 lifeguards, three waterside supervisors, one area supervisor and one project coordinator make up the complete lifeguard and rescue crew.

Adapted beaches

Councillor Escandell reminded residents that the beaches of Arenals and es Pujols are both equipped to allow swimming for individuals with reduced mobility. The Council recommends calling ahead of time to request the service, which is available from 12 noon to 5.00pm (green flag hours) and can be reached by calling 609.76.85.06.

It is also worth noting that Arenals, Illetes and Llevant beaches are all equipped with watchtowers and a first-aid station to provide improved care to accident victims. The first-aid stations were acquired last summer, constituting an important improvement to the Formentera safety service. Watchtowers can also be found at beaches in es Pujols, es Pas des Trucadors, Hotel RIU la Mola and the restaurant Tanga.

Everywhere lifeguard services are available there is also a complete first-aid kit, oxygen therapy system, state-of-the-art, semi-automatic defibrillator and floating spine board. A rescue watercraft is also available at ses Illetes beach as well as a Jet Ski at es Pas des Trucadors, Llevant and Arenals. Lifeguard service at Arenals beach extends to the area in front of Hotel RIU la Mola and and the Llevant service covers the beach near the restaurant Tanga.

Lifeguard and rescue staff complete yearly refresher courses both in first-aid and handling techniques for accident victims in marine environments. The fact that the CiF is the only town council officially recognised as providing a municipal safe beaches service means lower costs of operation are possible. Those savings are then reinvested to ensure a better service can be provided, Escandell said.

Furthermore, Escandell highlighted collaboration between the Council, the regional directorate general of fishing and the Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, a research institution, to compile information about jellyfish at Formentera beaches. Three times a day and at every beach with lifeguard service, data on jellyfish —numbers, species, number of stings reported— are collected on a rolling basis and analysed.

For information about sea conditions, jellyfish and other beach-related news, daily updates are posted to www.platgesdebalears.com

BEACH
PERIOD
HOURS

Ses Illetes
May 1 to June 15, September 16 to October 31
11.00am – 5.00pm

June 16 to September 15
11.00am – 7.00pm

Es Pas des Trucadors
June 1 to 15
12 noon – 4.00pm

June 16 to September 15
12 noon – 6.00pm

September 16 to 30
12 noon – 4.00pm

Platja de Llevant
May 1 to June 15,
September 16 to October 31
11.00am – 5.00pm

June 16 to September 15
11.00am – 7.00pm

Platja des Arenals
May 1 to June 15,
September 16 to October 31
11.00am – 5.00pm

June 16 to September 15
11.00am – 7.00pm

Es Pujols
June 1 to 15
11.00am – 5.00pm

June 16 to September 15
12 noon – 6.00pm