Fuel spill contaminates Palmones beach near Algeciras as sewage protests erupt in El Campello, Spain

Verdemar Ecologistas en Acción reported a marine fuel spill that has coated Palmones beach near Algeciras. The group alerted the Capitanía Marítima, urging an investigation into the source and possible responsibility of vessels conducting debunkering in the Bay of Algeciras. The spill threatens the protected Palmones River wetlands (ZEC and ZEPA) and the Zostera meadow that supports diverse bird and marine life. The organization called for a thorough cleanup and preventive measures.

In the neighbouring region of Alicante, activists and local groups organized a demonstration at L'Almadrava beach in El Campello after Ecologistas en Acción awarded the beach a black flag for chronic sewage contamination. The protest, held on 9 July, highlighted the municipality’s inadequate drainage infrastructure, ongoing delays in sewer upgrades, and the prevalence of untreated waste discharges that have repeatedly earned black‑flag warnings along the Spanish coast. Participants urged authorities to complete the pending works and improve beach cleanliness.