Galician marine and archaeological conservation

Conservation and preservation efforts in Galicia, Spain, have expanded from marine ecosystem restoration to include archaeological research and the protection of marine sanctuaries.

Initial initiatives focused on coastal cleanup and biomass regeneration. In Corrubedo, volunteers collected 165 kilograms of marine debris at Ladeira beach to protect coastal ecosystems. Additionally, the A Coruña fishermen’s guild seeded approximately 1.1 million clams in the Ría do Burgo to support local shellfish harvesting.

Subsequent efforts have integrated historical preservation with environmental protection. In Ons, researchers have launched a four-week archaeological campaign at Castelo dos Mouros to study the transition between Iron Age and Roman settlements. Meanwhile, a movement to protect the Estelas Islands marine sanctuary has emerged. Experts and fishing leaders are opposing proposals to extract iron from the shipwreck of the ‘Ivy’, arguing that the wreck has become a consolidated natural reef. The Spanish Ministry of Defense has paused extraction operations to assess the environmental impact on this area within the Natura 2000 network.