Puerto Mayor project in La Manga finally set for full dismantling
After years of delays, the failed marina scheme will be removed and the damaged coastline restored
Nearly 20 years after construction first began on the ill-fated Puerto Mayor marina beside the Estacio canal in La Manga del Mar Menor, the Spanish government is moving forward with a €23.3 million project to dismantle the abandoned infrastructure and restore the surrounding environment.
The development was originally launched in 1975 with grand ambitions: 900 moorings, 2,000 tourist homes, a golf course and even a small airport. Building started in 2004, but it quickly ran into fierce opposition from environmental groups concerned about further damage to the fragile Mar Menor ecosystem. Legal and administrative battles followed, halting the works by 2005. In 2020, the regional government officially revoked the project’s permissions, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court.
Now, following an extensive environmental assessment process, the Ministry for Ecological Transition has given the green light to begin dismantling what remains of the marina. The work includes removing 2.5 kilometres of corroded sheet piling from both land and sea, extracting 90,000 tonnes of heavy metal-contaminated soil, and tearing down part of the southern breakwater and other derelict structures. Beached boats and large piles of rubble will also be cleared.
The most challenging aspect will be the safe removal and disposal of soil polluted with arsenic and lead, which will be transported to a specialised hazardous waste facility in Alhama de Murcia. Around 100 hectares of maritime and terrestrial space are covered in the plan.
Environmental recovery will go beyond demolition. The Ministry also aims to restore natural habitats, including re-establishing dunes in Caleta del Estacio with help from the conservation group ANSE. Wooden walkways will be installed to improve public access, and an experimental planting of Posidonia oceanica seagrass is planned for a small seabed area.
What the Caleta del Estacio will look like after work is all completed
The works are expected to last up to 18 months once the contract is awarded, likely later this year. Although European recovery funds are available until mid-2026, additional national or EU funding may be sought to complete the project.
The failed Puerto Mayor development has long symbolised the dangers of unchecked coastal urbanisation. With its dismantling finally in sight, the Ministry hopes to reclaim the site for nature and public use, putting an end to a decades-long environmental and legal saga.
Images: MITECO
