Date Published: 03/02/2020
ARCHIVED - Green algae removed from the northern shore of the Mar Menor
ARCHIVED ARTICLE 
The Cladophora algae have flourished after the heavy autumn and winter storms
Workers have returned to the beaches of La Puntica and Villananitos in the municipality of San Pedro del Pinatar over the last few days to continue removing the green algae which began to form on the surface of the Mar Menor in December, reflecting the fact that the proliferation of algae is still causing problems after the heavy storms of the last three months.
One of the results of the “gota fría” storms in September and December 2019 and the further rain brought by Storm Gloria two weeks ago is that a large amount of fresh water has run off into the largest saltwater lagoon in Europe. This in turn has favoured the proliferation of the Caldophora genus of algae (which is referred to in Murcia as “ova”), particularly at the northern end of the Mar Menor, and in consequence it is reported that the regional government contracted the services of the company Orthem to clear the water between Thursday and Sunday.

Orthem is the same company which was called in during October to remove the tons of dead fish and crustaceans which washed up on the inland shore of the Mar Menor due to an episode of anoxia (lack of water) in the lagoon. This was, at least in part, another consequence of the September storm, which accelerated the gradual change in water quality in the lagoon due to the serious flooding in the area (click here for an explanation of the factors contributing to the changes in the Mar Menor over the last 50 years).
It should be pointed out that although a green algal film on the surface of the Mar Menor may not be attractive, the Cladophora genus inhabits all kinds of water and therefore should not be seen as “invasive”. Sometimes the alga can actually be beneficial, providing food for fish and other aquatic animals, and in the Mekong river in Laos it is a culinary delicacy: it is only when there is overgrowth that algal blooms develop and form floating mats.
These mats can prevent the aeration of deeper water and, by blocking the light, they kill the photosynthesising organisms growing beneath.
For this reason, as well as for aesthetic reasons, the clean-up in San Pedro has been deemed necessary, and is likely to be repeated elsewhere as similar build-ups of algae are reported in other places such as Santiago de la Ribera.
Images: @borjajeje and @AlbertoLC (Twitter)
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