The removal of biomass in the waters of the Mar Menor, carried out by the Government of the Region of Murcia, has led to the extraction of more than 5,900 tonnes so far this year alone. This was announced by the spokesman for the Scientific Advisory Committee, Emilio María Dolores, after the Mar Menor Monitoring Committee, chaired by the head of the regional government, Fernando López Miras.
Specifically, between January and March, 1,600 tonnes were removed and in the months of April and May more than 4,200 tonnes, «as a result of the massive proliferation of algae that we are suffering, coinciding with the massive influx of water through the Albujón wadi and with the increase in temperatures».
This removal of algae «is essential to prevent their decomposition, as otherwise the conditions of the Mar Menor would be much worse today, both ecologically and in terms of the different uses offered by the ecosystem». María Dolores thanked the cleaning brigades and fishermen for their work.
The meeting served to take stock of the situation of the ecosystem. The latest data on the state of the ecosystem were presented. The measurements taken on 27 May showed an average temperature of 24.76 degrees Celsius, an average turbidity of 1.11 FTU, oxygen levels at 6.86 mg/l, average chlorophyll at 0.61 µg/l, while salinity is at 39.90 PSU.
On another matter, the spokesman reported the volume of water entering the Albujón wadi today, standing at 308 litres per second, «a lower level than a few weeks ago, but which still shows very high levels». As a result, in the first five months of the year alone, the volume of water entering the wadi has already exceeded the 4.5 hectometres of last year’s 4.5 hectometres, which is now more than 6.2 hectometres. This is, in total, 44 percent more than that recorded in 2021.
Similarly, the entry of 896 tonnes of nitrogen and 4 tonnes of phosphorus has already been recorded, «partly responsible for the massive proliferation of algae that we are having,» he added. Thus, 85 percent of the phosphorous and 57 percent of the nitrogen entering the Mar Menor do so via the Albujón wadi.
Finally, with regard to the points which in recent weeks have registered decreases in their oxygen levels, «we consider the La Ribera episode to be over», he explained, «and we continue to detect an area with small hypoxia points to the north of Villas Caravaning (Las Lomas area), where during the day the oxygen values exceed 4 mg/l».
