Who grants the AROC authorisation?

Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition, under Law 41/2010 on the protection of the marine environment. It is a state authorisation, separate from the Canary Islands’ Blue Boat tourist licence.

What rules does it impose on the boat while whale watching?

Those of Royal Decree 1727/2007: respecting a mobile protection space around the animals, approaching below 4 knots and at the correct angle, and never chasing, intercepting or scattering the groups.

Where can I check which vessels hold the AROC?

The ministry publishes the official list of authorised vessels on its website. Our sailboats Aemon and Ayla appear on it; the direct link is at the end of this page.

State authorisation

AROC authorisation

The Spanish Government authorisation for recreational cetacean watching, with our sailboats on the official register.

What is the AROC authorisation?

AROC —the Recreational Cetacean Watching Activity— is the authorisation granted by Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition to watch cetaceans recreationally in Spanish waters, under Royal Decree 1727/2007 on cetacean protection. Picarus’ sailboats, Aemon and Ayla, appear on the state list of authorised vessels.

Granted by: Ministry for the Ecological Transition (Spanish Government)
Rules: Law 41/2010 and Royal Decree 1727/2007
Regulates: protection space, slow approaches, forbidden behaviour
Our sailboats: Aemon and Ayla, on the state list

Recreational cetacean watching activity certificate (AROC)

What it is and who grants it

AROC is the authorisation for the Recreational Cetacean Watching Activity granted by Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition, under Law 41/2010 on the protection of the marine environment and Royal Decree 1727/2007 on cetacean protection measures: a mobile protection space around the animals, slow approaches at the correct angle, and expressly forbidden behaviour such as chasing them or cutting across their path.

Royal Decree 1727/2007 defines a mobile protection space around the animals and sets how to behave inside it: approach below 4 knots and at the correct angle, never cut across their path, never chase them or scatter the groups. AROC accredits that whoever watches cetaceans knows and accepts those rules.

What it means when you sail with us

Our sailboats Aemon and Ayla appear on the state list of authorised vessels, under the files shown on our seal: AROC CAN 40 2017 and AROC CAN 40C 2018. It is the guarantee that the watching we do is regulated and supervised, not improvised.

In practice, those rules match what we have done for years out of conviction: letting the animals decide whether to come closer. When a group of pilot whales keeps calmly on its course beside the sailboat, it is because nobody forced them into anything.

Frequently asked questions

Who grants the AROC authorisation?

Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition, under Law 41/2010 on the protection of the marine environment. It is a state authorisation, separate from the Canary Islands’ Blue Boat tourist licence.
What rules does it impose on the boat while whale watching?

Those of Royal Decree 1727/2007: respecting a mobile protection space around the animals, approaching below 4 knots and at the correct angle, and never chasing, intercepting or scattering the groups.
Where can I check which vessels hold the AROC?

The ministry publishes the official list of authorised vessels on its website. Our sailboats Aemon and Ayla appear on it; the direct link is at the end of this page.

Verify it at the source

The ministry publishes both the explanation of the AROC and the official list of authorised vessels, where you can look up Aemon and Ayla.

AROC — Ministry for the Ecological Transition ↗ (opens in a new window)Official list of authorised vessels ↗ (opens in a new window)The Aemon in the official AROC register ↗ (opens in a new window)The Ayla in the official AROC register ↗ (opens in a new window)

Official sources last verified in July 2026.

Certifications

A guarantee of trust

Quality milestone · 2018

ISO 9001:2015

We were the first company in the sector to obtain the ISO 9001:2015 certificate for whale watching and crewed services for maritime excursions (AENOR, 2018).

Learn more →