Nerja’s marine ecosystem in danger.

DIVERS have alerted that fishing boats and raw sewage being pumped into the sea around Nerja is damaging the seagrasses off Maro. The Malaga Poseidonia Seagrass Defence Group, created by divers and environmentalists in the Axarquia area has launched an SOS regarding the situation.

They say that just 10 years ago, the area from the Balcon de Europa to Maro-Cerro Gordo had hundreds of square metres of seagrasses which have now almost completely disappeared, leaving just seven square metres in the Maro area which is surrounded by rocks.

They blame fishing boats which come too close to the shore and see it as a problem for the town, as it will stop tourists from visiting if the quality of the area is not improved. In 2007, floods washed all kinds of items into the sea around Maro, causing much damage, but the group has been told by the Junta de Andalucia that they are not to clear the area, but allow it to recover naturally.

Many species breed amongst the seagrasses, and the Junta de Andalucia defends its attempts to do away with illegal fishing and the creation of artificial reefs to promote the development of the seagrasses.

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