Check

The uncontrolled increase and lack of regulation of activities in the Mar Menor watershed has caused significant impacts on the lagoon. It has been necessary to update and improve the legal framework, as well as establish greater control over individuals and economic activities regarding the application of the laws to provide greater protection, reverse the pollution of the affected water bodies, and re-establish the boundaries between public and private property. Comprehensive measures have been implemented to strengthen legal oversight on various fronts and to recover natural elements belonging to the public domain through the process of demarcating the Public Water Domain (DPH) and the Maritime-Terrestrial Domain (DPMT).

The advances described in this section seek to establish greater protection against pollution with the necessary regulations to prevent activities harmful to the ecosystem of the Mar Menor and its watershed, strict compliance with existing regulations and the re-establishment of the boundaries between public and private through the process of demarcating the Public Domain.

pantalla de configuraciones esquematizada

Legal framework

Various regulatory actions have been approved that may be relevant to the recovery of the lagoon and its catchment area. (See 07 regulatory reforms ).

Some MAPMM actions have been declared of general interest so that they can be carried out by the General State Administration (Royal Decree-Law 27/2021, of November 23, extending certain economic measures to support recovery).

The declaration of the Campo de Cartagena groundwater body (MASub) as at risk requires the approval of an action plan for it (in preparation), and the final censuses of users of the Quaternary and Andalusian aquifers have already been published.

Until its approval, the precautionary measures established in July 2020 must be complied with. Link to precautionary measures: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-B-2020-24791

flechas en forma de x embebidas en una circunferencia

Establish limits in the territory

These measures help restore natural elements that belong to the public domain, which leads to improved ecological connectivity, the development and conservation of habitats, and a reduction in the risk of flooding.

Among the milestones achieved is the approval of the demarcation of the Los Nietos DPMT (Regional Development Plan), ending a long period of legal uncertainty for the owners of the first and second lines of the seafront in this area.

The "Technical Guide for the Identification and Inventory of Ephemeral River Channels" has also been completed and submitted to the Ministry, along with the pilot study on Campo de Cartagena. It indicates that 271.72 km of the studied routes may meet the requirements for DPH status.

Restoration and control of legality

Comprehensive measures have been implemented to strengthen legal oversight, including an increase in personnel dedicated to monitoring and inspection, as well as the processing of administrative files, such as sanctioning files for illegal irrigation.
Efforts are also being coordinated to curb groundwater contamination and restore its quality. Precautionary measures are being implemented, which will remain in effect until the MASub Campo de Cartagena action plan is approved.
Discharge monitoring, with a focus on livestock farms, complements these initiatives to ensure effective environmental management and contribute to strengthening legal oversight.

Do you want to know the latest developments in measures?

MAPMM Progress Report