The Costa del Sol Beach Committee, is raising the alarm over the deteriorating condition of Marbella’s beaches. The group has launched a petition to demand action from the central government to tackle the invasive Asian algae and the ongoing coastal erosion that is affecting the region’s beaches
“Every year, there’s less sand and more algae. We depend on tourism, and this situation could drive visitors to other destinations. We need solutions before it’s too late,” said Sergio Gutiérrez, president of the committee.
Petition for action
The business owners have begun collecting signatures in the local area, demanding that the central government act against the Asian algae invasion and build breakwaters to protect the beaches from further erosion. Gutiérrez noted that they plan to deliver the petition to Madrid in October and will organise protests if necessary to push for immediate action.
The petition has also been translated into English to encourage participation from Marbella’s international residents and visitors. “This is an issue that affects everyone—not just the people who live in Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara but also those who visit regularly or vacation here. We all want clean, well-maintained beaches,” Gutiérrez added.
Algae invasion
In recent years, the invasive Rugulopteryx okamurae algae has become a significant problem along the Costa del Sol. Authorities are struggling to remove the rapidly spreading plant. The Marbella City Council is spending approximately €150,000 per month to clean the coastline. They daily remove around 75 tonnes of algae.
The local government has called on the central government to help address the situation, requesting funds in the 2025 general budget to cover the cost of removing the algae. While beach cleaning falls under municipal responsibility, Marbella officials argue that the central government added the algae to Spain’s catalogue of invasive species in 2020. Herewith, making it a national issue that requires government intervention. The city recently acquired a specialised machine designed to remove the invasive algae without taking away large amounts of sand.
Coastal stabilisation projects
In response to the growing erosion problem, the central government has announced a €16 million investment to stabilise the beaches of Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara. The project, led by the Directorate General of the Coast and Sea, will focus on two key areas. The first phase involves regenerating the area between Venus Beach and Punta El Ancón. Authorities will add 200,000 cubic metres of sand and construct two breakwaters, each about 200 metres long. The second phase will focus on the coastline between the Guadalmina and Guadaiza rivers. There, five perpendicular breakwaters will be built, and 200,000 cubic metres of sand will be added. The total cost of these projects is estimated at €16 million, with work expected to take 8–9 months.
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