Yachties say they are not to blame

News desk THE Association of Yachting companies in the Balearics yesterday called on the Government to investigate the origin of coastal pollution on the islands. They are angry that their sector is “being unfairly blamed by hoteliers” in spite of the fact that the yachting companies themselves “are some of the first to suffer” as a result of the pollution. The companies, affiliated to the small businesses federation Pimem, confirmed that they are “paying a high price for the waste” that has accumulated along the Balearic coast as it frequently gets caught up in the engines and workings of boats and is not at all attractive to look at for those on pleasure craft. Pimem's president, Margarita Dahlberg, emphasized that “the majority of people who go boating respect the environment and take their rubbish back to port, tied up in bags”. Dahlberg firmly rejected accusations from the hoteliers that pleasure craft were the source of most of the waste found floating close to the coastline. Apart from being in favour of an official investigation, Dahlberg said that “offenders should be prosecuted”.