“The Little Sea”. It’s the direct translation of Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, the Mar Menor, located off Spain’s sunny south-eastern coast of the Costa Calida. But the Little Sea’s former crystal-clear color has long been green. Environmentally harmful fertilizers from nearby farms, poor sewage systems and emissions from mining have for decades choked the lagoon, which is home to several species of fish, seahorses and the endangered European eel. But now a new law passed last September will ensure that the Mar Menor can once again thrive in its pre-industrial, natural form and cheerfully face a less smelly future. The law has given the saltwater lagoon and the surrounding coastline personal status. This means that “The Little Sea” of 1,600 square kilometers now has the right “to exist as an ecosystem and to develop naturally”, the law states. Campaign and Spanish signatures – I cried, says an emotional Eduardo Salazar Ortuño about his reaction when the law was passed. He is an environmental lawyer and was part of the commission that fought for the bill for two years. – It was really hard work, he sighs softly. – We have met great opposition on our way. There were many who tried to stop us. Dissatisfied farmers who did not want to change their working habits were the first in the line of opponents, but with 640,000 collected signatures, it finally succeeded in creating such a large focus on the Mar Menor that the politicians could trump the farmers’ needs in favor of wild nature. Guardians of the lagoon After years of pollution, the lagoon collapsed in 2016 when a massive growth of algae – caused mainly by agricultural sewage (which has increased tenfold in forty years) – killed 85 percent of the sea grass and turned the water green. With less oxygen in the lagoon, thousands of fish sought land for air. The fish were dying, the lagoon was stinking and the locals were furious. The Mar Menor was down for the count and scientists warned of the lagoon’s demise. Today, however, the lagoon with its personal rights has received vital help to ensure that life in the Little Sea can once again live in a cleaner environment. A selection of lawyers, local residents and scientists have been chosen as representatives to protect the Mar Menor. Moreover, any citizen with concrete evidence can present a case on behalf of the lagoon. At the same time, the Spanish government has set aside 20 million euros to improve water quality and make up for current damage. – A violation of the lagoon’s rights and pollution of the sea will result in a fine, explains Eduardo Salazar Ortuño, who is part of the lagoon’s legal advocates. – The size of the fine is calculated based on the extent of the damage and the price it will cost the region to fix it, he explains. Since 2016, the Mar Menor has had a greenish color due to decades of pollution of the lagoon. Photo: Pedro Martínez Rodriguez Personal rights to several natural areas While Spain is the first country in Europe to grant nature personal rights, other countries in the world have previously adopted similar laws. In 2016, Colombia granted rights to the Atrato River, and the following year New Zealand passed ground-breaking legislation giving the Whanganui River personhood. Similar measures have also come into force in India, Ecuador and Panama. Eduardo Salazar Ortuño also expects that other countries will soon follow suit. – Next week I am going to a meeting in Palermo (in Italy, editor’s note), where we will try to give personal status to the Mediterranean, he says. – We are part of an international movement with a focus on nature, which only continues to grow. So I am absolutely certain that other natural areas in the future will also be protected by law.
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Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon was dying: Now it is protected by law
