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Date Published: 18/09/2024

First trial for polluting Mar Menor ends in 1-year prison sentence for farmer

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The farmer will also have to pay compensation of 17,000 euros for spilling harmful nitrates into the Murcia watercourse

First trial for polluting Mar Menor ends in 1-year prison sentence for farmer

In a watershed moment for the Mar Menor, a farmer has agreed to a one-year suspended prison sentence for dumping nitrates into the lagoon. At the first ever trial of its kind, the accused, Francisco Roca León, pleaded guilty to the crime and agreed to pay a fine of 1,500 euros and compensation of 17,252.08 euros on Tuesday September 17.

The incident is part of the larger ‘Topillo Case’, which involves the pollution of the Mar Menor by several agricultural companies and individuals.

Mr Roca León admitted to installing an illegal desalination plant on his farm in the Campo de Cartagena area, which lacked authorisation from the Segura Hydrographic Confederation. The plant discharged a huge amount of minerals into the Mar Menor, causing significant damage to the ecosystem.

According to prosecutors, between 2015 and 2017, some 68,061 cubic metres of water loaded with harmful nitrates and brine washed from his property into the Mar Menor. As a result and in addition to the prison sentence and fine, the accused has been banned from working as a farmer or for any agricultural company for six months.

Since Mr Roca León has no prior criminal record, his sentence will be suspended as long as he pays the fine and compensation within 10 days and refrains from committing any other crimes for two years.

Furthermore, he will also face financial penalties directly from the Region of Murcia, which haven’t been calculated yet.

According to the prosecutor’s brief, “The accused caused substantial damage to natural systems, for the operation and discharge of its desalination systems.”

Miguel de Mata explains that “as a consequence of the exploitation of the farm, in view of its location, volume of desalinated water over time, destination of the discharge, conductivity and concentration of nitrates in the desalinated water, according to the expert report of the ecotoxicologist Mr Burillo, substantial damage has been caused to the quality of the waters.”

In addition, harm was caused “to animals and plants, with special impact on the natural balance constituted by the various habitats that make up the Mar Menor, being a main cause of the irreversible and catastrophic deterioration of the Mar Menor.”

The ‘Topillo Case’ is just one example of the larger issue of environmental pollution in the Region of Murcia and Tuesday’s hearing will be followed by dozens more in the coming years.