Mass Fish Deaths in Marbella’s Turtle Lake Sparks Controversy
In recent days, the death of hundreds of fish in Marbella’s Lago de las Tortugas, or ‘Turtle Lake’, has ignited a dispute in the town. The controversy revolves around the methods used in the remodelling of the Las Medranas reservoir. The town hall’s environment department is yet to determine the cause of the mass fish deaths.
Accusations of Mishandling by Environmentalists and Opposition Parties
Environmentalists and opposition political parties have pointed fingers at the town hall, accusing them of improperly transferring the fish from one location to another. Javier de Luis from Ecologistas Malaka, along with local residents and other environmentalists, have taken to social media to express their outrage over the fish deaths.
Claims of Anoxia as Cause of Fish Deaths
De Luis suggests that the fish deaths are likely due to anoxia, a condition caused by a lack of oxygen that results in a slow death. He believes that the fish were moved without any prior sanitary or environmental control, leading to this condition. The environmentalists also claim that the Junta de Andalucía has violated the law by not ensuring the transfer was conducted in a manner that would not endanger local ecosystems.
Legal Action and Calls for Accountability
The environmentalist group has lodged a complaint with the Malaga environmental prosecutor’s office. The local PSOE and Opción Sampedreña (OSP) political parties, which are in opposition at the town hall, have demanded answers from the governing Partido Popular (PP).
Unprecedented Ecological Disaster
Isabel Pérez, the spokesperson for the PSOE in Marbella, has labelled the incident as an “unprecedented ecological disaster”. She criticizes both the Junta and the town hall for their chaotic environmental management during the Las Medranas reservoir work, accusing them of complete disregard for the local flora and fauna.
Concerns Over Hypoxia and Ecosystem Disruption
Pérez also suggests that the government team may have induced hypoxia in the Lago de las Tortugas due to oxygen deprivation. She insists that the introduction of species into a different ecosystem should have been assessed by competent field technicians. The OSP has described the Lago de las Tortugas as the site of an environmental tragedy, with dozens of fish found dead following an ill-planned and unsafe transfer from the Medranas reservoir.
