Cartagena to install 4 floating pontoons to protect swimmers and the Mar Menor
The temporary walkways will help swimmers avoid sludge while protecting Mar Menor marine life
Cartagena City Council is planning to install four floating pontoons along the Mar Menor to make it easier and safer for people to enjoy the water, while also helping to protect the delicate marine environment.
Anyone who's visited the area recently knows the first few metres of shoreline have become muddy, murky and sometimes downright unpleasant. Years of pollution and flooding have caused thick layers of sludge and algae to build up, making it hard to get into the sea without sinking into the often smelly mess.
These pontoons are designed to give beachgoers a way to walk over that muddy stretch and reach cleaner, deeper water for swimming.
At the same time, they’re a way to keep people from trampling over parts of the seabed that are home to protected plants and animals. The pontoons will begin 24 to 28 metres from the shore where the water is deep enough for safe bathing and stretch out over an average of 80 metres, supported by floating platforms.
They’ll be installed at Los Nietos, Playa Honda, Playa Cavanna, and likely at Los Alemanes beach too.
The project will cost around €70,000 and covers everything from the setup to ongoing maintenance. The plan is to install the walkways before the 2025 summer season kicks off and tourists flock to the Mar Menor, and dismantle them again when the high season comes to an end.
The project will be overseen by a university-qualified professional with at least five years of experience in environmental monitoring and a strong understanding of the local ecosystem, including its protected land and marine species. Their role is to ensure the installation and use of the pontoons does not harm the unique wildlife found in the Mar Menor.
Also of interest: New association unites towns around the Mar Menor under one umbrella
Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena
