Yahoo News Holiday warning issued for Majorca as beaches ‘under threat’
Majorca’s beaches are ‘under threat’ from an invasive species of seaweed, experts have warned.
The Spanish islands is a popular destination among Brits and its beautiful beaches are a major draw for UK holidaymakers.
But it’s feared that shipping routes from mainland Spain could bring a species of brown algae to the Balearic Islands, local news site Majorca Daily Bulletin reports.
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‘Rugulopterix okamurae’ is native to the Pacific ocean but is invasive to the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The plant reproduces at a high rate and is not eaten by fish, so the remains come to the surface and are transported to the coast by currents, ending up on beaches.
It was first detected in Ceuta in 2015 and has been found along the Andalusian coast, Murcia and Valencia. One town in Andalusia admitted they were unable to pay for its removal.
Fiona Tomàs, a researcher at the IMEDEA Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies, warns shipping routes could bring to the Balearic Islands.
It’s particularly concerning as Majorca and the neighbouring islands rely on their coastlines for their economy, whether its tourism or fishing.
She said: “We must act in time because we have the knowledge and we can carry out effective preventive management to avoid an invasion or, at least, minimise its impact.”
María Altamirano, professor of botany and plant physiology at the University of Malaga, says: "Although it has not yet been detected, the Balearic Islands are a highly favourable area for it to proliferate. The authorities should look at minimising its spread."
Some places like Catalonia have monitoring systems in place for invasive algae, but these measures aren’t used in the Balearics. María suggests using quarantines.
She said: "It is important to inform all people at sea how to identify it, so that they can notify the authorities. It quickly colonises everything, and then nothing can be done.
