Ecological disaster in Spain: tons of algae have invaded the country's beaches

According to glavcom.ua: The beaches of Cadiz in Andalusia have been attacked by Rugulopterix okamurae algae, which usually grow in Asia. Since May, authorities have already removed about 1,200 tons of this algae from La Caleta beach, doing so at a rate of 78 tons per day. The head of the beaches department of the Cadiz City Council called it an 'ecological disaster.'

Rugulopterix okamurae algae, which typically grow in Asia, have spread along the coast of Gibraltar over the last ten years. Their arrival in Europe is linked to ships passing through the Suez Canal. This type of algae has taken over large areas from the Strait of Gibraltar to the western Mediterranean and further north, as well as on islands in the Atlantic Ocean, leading to ecosystem disruption and threats to fishing and tourism.

'Algae negatively impact numerous sectors of the local economy. The widespread proliferation of this algae harms tourism in Cadiz and Tarifa, causing unpleasant odors and hindering vacationers. The fishing industry suffers from the algae that entangle fishermen's nets and deplete oxygen from the water,' the article states.

Algae from Asia, overtaking the beaches of Spain, are becoming a real problem for the local economy, tourism, and fishing, disrupting the ecosystem and threatening biodiversity in the region.