IbizaPreservation was one of the founding organisations of the Mar Blava Alliance, created in 2013 in response to proposals for oil exploration off the coast of Ibiza and Formentera. It grew to become a national coalition with more than 120 members, including public administrations, private companies and social organisations.
The initial campaign, under the slogan Eivissa diu NO (“Ibiza says NO”), managed to mobilise thousands of people and secure the support of international figures such as Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, James Blunt, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Fatboy Slim and Pete Tong. One of the most symbolic moments was the arrival in Ibiza of the Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace’s iconic ship, which joined the protests to raise international awareness of public opposition to oil prospecting.
Political and social pressure culminated in March 2021 with a historic milestone: the definitive ban on new oil and gas prospecting in all Spanish waters. Shortly afterwards, Repsol abandoned the Casablanca platform, the last active oil installation in the Spanish Mediterranean.
Thanks to the work of Mar Blava, the Western Mediterranean Cetacean Migration Corridor was declared a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (ZEPIM), protecting more than 45,000 km² of sea.
With all its founding objectives fulfilled, the Mar Blava Alliance stands as an example of effective cooperation in the defence of the marine environment, a historic movement of which we are proud to have formed part.
