Marbella’s Puerto Deportivo Virgen del Carmen has recorded a sharp rise in marine biodiversity in less than six months, offering local readers a clear example of ecological activity within the port.
At a glance
- Six Life-Boosting Units have been installed across two areas of the port.
- The structures contain 27 recorded species, compared with 11 in conventional port areas.
- The project recorded a 60 per cent increase in ecological diversity.
- Juvenile fish account for 89 per cent of the recorded biomass.
Marine life has increased around the structures
The Marbella port project has produced a marked biodiversity increase in less than six months.
The Puerto Deportivo Virgen del Carmen has doubled the presence of marine species in its facilities in less than six months following the installation of ecological micro-reefs.
The micro-reefs contain 27 species, compared with 11 identified in conventional port areas. Initial environmental monitoring also recorded a 60 per cent increase in ecological diversity.
The project consists of six structures known as Life-Boosting Units, or LBUs, installed in two areas of the port complex.
What the monitoring recorded
Monitoring shows greater variety, young fish dominance and established marine communities.
The Shannon index reached an average value of 1.70 on the micro-reefs, compared with 1.06 in control areas. This measure is used to represent ecological diversity.
Juvenile fish make up 89 per cent of the recorded biomass. The observed specimens measure between 6 and 16 centimetres.
The structures host algae, annelids, ascidians, bryozoans, crustaceans, echinoderms, hydrozoans and molluscs. The monitoring also confirmed the presence of cuttlefish eggs.
Why this matters in Marbella
The findings show how ecological structures can support marine life inside a working port.
For residents and visitors in Marbella, the results highlight a local change beneath the surface of the Puerto Deportivo Virgen del Carmen. Marine biodiversity has increased within a port setting, where the six structures are supporting a range of organisms and juvenile fish.
The presence of several marine groups, together with cuttlefish eggs, indicates that the structures are being used by different forms of life. The reported comparison with control areas provides a specific measure of the project’s early results.
What readers should know
Readers should consult Marbella City Hall for the project’s official updates and information.
Anyone seeking further details about the micro-reefs, their monitoring or the locations of the structures should check the official information published by Marbella City Hall.
The available results are an early assessment covering less than six months, so readers interested in the project should follow future official updates for subsequent monitoring findings.
Source: Marbella City Hall. Details checked by Marbella Daily on 9 November 2026.
