Date Published: 13/12/2024

First fines doled out to boats illegally anchoring in Mar Menor

The Cartagena Maritime Authority is investigating 37 boat owners for mooring in restricted giant mussel beds

The government in Murcia is continuing its crusade to clean up the Mar Menor and protect the vital maritime species that call it home. Along these lines, the Cartagena Maritime Authority is currently processing 37 files against boat owners who have illegally anchored in areas of the lagoon where giant mussels are found.

These areas of water are designated as restricted to protect the giant mussel, a species of bivalve mollusc declared to be in critical condition, and to maintain the ecological balance.

Cartagena started doling out the first fines on Thursday December 12 to boat owners moored in the restricted areas, and the sanctions range from 600 to 1,000 euros, so it’s hoped they’ll be a costly deterrent. As such, the Maritime Authority has threatened even higher financial penalties for repeat offenders.

Since the offences date back to the summer and the beginning of autumn, many of the boats caught breaking the rules were foreign flagged.

Back in August 2023, an official request was submitted to the authorities to prohibit the anchoring of ships and boats in four areas of Mar Menor to protect the giant mussel beds.

The document stated, "anchoring causes physical damage due to the impact of the anchor and chain on specimens of this species, or even during the navigation of the ship or boat itself through shallow waters."

This request was granted on September 7 last year. The restricted areas are around the islands of Perdiguera and Mayor o del Barón, as well as the beaches of El Pedruchillo and Matasgordas, in the part of La Manga that belongs to the municipality of San Javier.

All four protected bodies of water are clearly marked so that fishermen and leisure boat owners don’t stray into them by accident.

And the authorities have allowed plenty of exceptions. At the beginning of the summer, the Ministry of Transport authorised the anchoring of rental boats and boats used tours, sailboats and pleasure boats in other areas of Mar Menor, with certain limitations: only in authorised anchoring areas, with temporary anchorages and for a maximum duration of 24 consecutive hours.

This measure was put in place in order to not harm companies dedicated to boat rentals and the organisation of excursions in the lagoon.

While the tougher stance has been praised, maritime captain of Cartagena, Óscar Villar, is still pushing for the creation of more environmental nurseries in the Mar Menor.

"It would be the most pertinent thing if we want to maintain a continuous fight" against prohibited practices in the Mar Menor, he said.