Spanish Ministry of Defense halts iron extraction from Ivy shipwreck

The Spanish Ministry of Defense has halted an attempt by a Valencia-based company to extract 30,000 tons of iron from the “Ivy,” a Liberian freighter that sank near the Estelas Islands in 1976. The ministry has requested expert reports to evaluate the potential environmental impact on the area, which is part of the Natura 2000 network and classified as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), located near the Atlantic Islands National Park.

The local government of Nigrán, led by Mayor Juan González, is formally requesting that the Ministry of Defense permanently disauthorize the extraction. Local officials and researchers from the University of Vigo argue that the shipwreck, resting at a depth of 10 meters, has evolved into a consolidated natural reef. This ecosystem serves as a vital breeding ground and refuge for various marine species, including octopus, lobster, seabass, and crab, as well as protected kelp algae.

Mayor González emphasized that the economic profitability for a private company should not jeopardize the underwater ecological balance, describing the site as a “sacred natural heritage” and a fundamental sanctuary for the local fishing economy.