ARCHIVED - San pedro del Pinatar using posidonia to prevent erosion on La Llana beach

Posidonia dragged from the beaches of Torre Derribada and El Mojón is being used as a natural material to help prevent erosion of the Playa de La Llana

The Department of the Environment is working alongside the Life Salinas project to transfer posidonia deposits from the beaches of Torre Derribada and El Mojón to Playa de La Llana, as a new measure to stop the coastal erosion of this beach, which has been aggravated by storms during the last few months.

The coordinator of the project, Gustavo Ballesteros, explained that more than 320,000 kilos of posidonia have been transferred to the Playa de La Llana and is being piled up at the base of the existing dunes to re-enforce them and prevent their gradual erosion.

The natural processes of wind and sea action will cover the posidonia with sand and incorporate it into the natural structure of the dunes.

Re-enforcing the dunes is complemented by other actions carried out within the framework of the Life project in La Llana, such as the fencing of the dune area, the placement of sand collectors or revegetation with native species to help retain the sand.

Significant quantities of posidonia (sea grass) wash up on the beaches forming a thick mat on the shoreline, which is removed purely for aesthetic reasons, making the beach more attractive for visitors.
The posidonia meadows off the coastline of the region are essential for the health of the water and their presence highlights the quality of the water off our coastline here, playing a vital role in the prevention of beach erosion as well as providing an important environment for marine life.

The Life project, co-financed by European funds, is coordinated by the Spanish Salinera company and also includes the participation of the San Pedro del Pinatar City Council, the General Directorate for Natural Environment of the Autonomous Community, the University of Murcia, the Association of Naturalists del Sureste (ANSE) and Mae D'Agua.

The main objective of the project is to achieve an optimal state of conservation of the main habitats and waterfowl, as well as to improve the production of salt in the surroundings of the Salinas and Arenales de San Pedro, and includes other measures such as improving the water circuit of the El Coterillo pond, the construction and adaptation of salt production and waterways, etc.

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