The Mar Menor has become a veritable open-air laboratory where science, technology, and the agricultural sector are working together to halt years of environmental degradation. While local residents remain vigilant about the water's color and the episodes of "green soup ," researchers are constantly refining the tools they use to measure what is really happening in the lagoon off the coast of Murcia.
Meanwhile, local agriculture is trying to adapt to more sustainable models , with projects aimed at reducing nutrient runoff and improving irrigation management. A shared challenge is on the table: to understand precisely how the Mar Menor has changed in the last decade and what can be done, both on land and at sea, to alleviate the pressure on Spain's most famous coastal ecosystem.
A digital map to X-ray the Mar Menor in great detail
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), through the Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN-CSIC), has developed a methodology that combines artificial intelligence with images from the Sentinel-2 satellite to study with great precision the evolution of the water quality of the Mar Menor for almost ten years.
The research, published in the Journal of Hydrology , is based on a time series of images taken between July 2015 and June 2024. Sentinel-2 offers a spatial resolution of 10 meters per pixel , sufficient to track the evolution of large coastal areas and detect relevant changes in the state of the lagoon, although without reaching the detail of small objects such as individual boats.
From these images, the scientific team monitored two key indicators: chlorophyll-a , used to estimate the amount of algae present, and turbidity , which reflects the amount of suspended matter in the water. High levels of both parameters are usually associated with eutrophication and oxygen depletion , two phenomena of particular concern in the Mar Menor.
The analysis has not been limited to a simple reading of values, but has also employed unsupervised machine learning techniques and advanced statistical methods. These tools allow for the grouping of areas of the lagoon based on their environmental behavior, which is very useful for understanding where problems are concentrated and how they evolve over time.
Thanks to this approach, researchers have been able to generate a high-resolution digital map of the Mar Menor , clearly identifying the most degraded areas and describing their environmental patterns. This map thus becomes a solid basis for decision-making by managers and administrations.
Rambla del Albujón and three large environmental areas in the lagoon
One of the most significant results of the CSIC's work is the division of the Mar Menor into three large environmental zones , defined according to their characteristics and behavior over the last decade. This type of zoning helps to differentiate areas with varying sensitivity and response to external impacts.
Among the most problematic areas, the Rambla del Albujón stands out . This waterway, which flows into the lagoon between Los Alcázares and El Algar, has become one of the main entry points for nutrients into the ecosystem . Satellite imagery and AI models both identify this area as one of the most degraded.
The study also shows how this methodology allows us to distinguish between seasonal changes, long-term trends, and isolated events . Thus, a variation typical of each summer, associated with rising temperatures, is not the same as a gradual worsening trend or a sudden spike linked to a DANA (isolated high-level depression) or torrential rains.
According to the researchers involved, including Paola Barba and Isabel Caballero , the use of algorithms that group pixels with similar behaviors has made it easier to identify patterns that would otherwise go unnoticed. This has allowed them to see how certain areas respond differently to the same episodes of environmental stress.
This level of detail is especially relevant for planning restoration and monitoring actions , as it allows prioritizing the most sensitive areas and better adjusting the available resources, both technical and economic.
“Green soups”, the 2019 DANA storm and a new ecological balance
The analysis of nearly ten years of data doesn't just capture a snapshot, but directly links the detected anomalies to extreme events that have marked the recent history of the Mar Menor. Among these, the well-known "green soups" of 2016 and 2017 stand out, when the proliferation of algae colored the water and drastically reduced the oxygen concentration.
The research also links abrupt changes in chlorophyll-a and turbidity to the 2019 DANA storm and subsequent weather events , which increased the influx of freshwater, sediments, and nutrients from the watershed. These events have significantly altered the dynamics of the lagoon ecosystem.
One of the most striking findings is the identification of a new equilibrium in recent years. According to the authors, chlorophyll-a and turbidity levels appear to have stabilized, which might suggest an improvement. However, the researchers are clear on this point: this stability does not equate to a recovery of the Mar Menor.
Rather, they suggest that the lagoon has transitioned to a different ecological state , where parameters remain relatively constant, but still far from what would be considered a healthy situation. In other words, the system has adapted to a context of continuous pressure, without returning to its original state.
This shift in balance, detected thanks to the combination of AI and satellite observation, serves as a warning: the absence of major shocks in the indicators does not mean that the problem is solved , but rather that the accumulated impacts have imposed a new ecological “normality”.
Tools for more efficient management of the Mar Menor
Beyond the scientific results, the methodology developed by ICMAN-CSIC has very practical applications for the environmental management of the lagoon and other European coastal areas subject to similar pressures.
First, it allows for the optimization of sampling station locations in the field. Instead of distributing sensors and field campaigns evenly, managers can concentrate their efforts on the most sensitive or representative areas, better adjusting the number of monitoring points and their exact position.
This translates into reduced monitoring costs and greater efficiency in the use of available resources, without sacrificing analytical capabilities. In fact, zoning with a 10-meter resolution provides a level of detail difficult to achieve with traditional sampling alone.
Furthermore, tools of this kind offer continuous and up-to-date information on ecosystem evolution , which is crucial in a context of climate change and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. The ability to anticipate or react quickly to a new "green soup" or a DANA (isolated high-level depression) can make all the difference.
Isabel Caballero , the lead researcher on the project, emphasizes that this AI- and satellite-based approach can contribute to designing more effective adaptation measures to global change . The idea is that technology should not replace fieldwork, but rather complement it and make it more intelligent.
Innovative agriculture to reduce pressure on the lagoon
While the scientific community refines its monitoring models, another key front is unfolding on land: the transformation of agriculture in the Mar Menor basin . The NewAgro Mar Menor project, coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) together with PROEXPORT, is working precisely in that direction.
This initiative, funded by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge , is aimed at designing and evaluating advanced agronomic strategies that facilitate a transition towards more sustainable production models in the lagoon environment.
The project is structured around five interconnected work areas , ranging from the use of sensors to monitor irrigation to the incorporation of beneficial flora and algae cultivation in crops. One of its main focuses is the intelligent monitoring of irrigation water , using digital tools to adjust water inputs and minimize losses and runoff into the Mar Menor lagoon.
NewAgro is also committed to implementing smart traps for lepidopteran control , thereby reducing the need for intensive phytosanitary treatments. In addition, research is being conducted into reducing the use of mineral nitrogen through the application of biochar and the combined effect of biostimulants and organic amendments on the soil and crops.
Another key aspect is the redesign of agricultural hedgerows as elements that, beyond separating plots, act as vegetation barriers, provide refuge for beneficial fauna, and support ecosystem services. All of this is aimed at ensuring that the agricultural landscape helps to mitigate the flow of nutrients and sediments into the lagoon.
Dissemination, gastronomy and generational change around the Mar Menor
The NewAgro Mar Menor project is not limited to research in plots and laboratories. In collaboration with the Association of Families and Women of Rural Areas (AFAMMER) , it organizes fun and technical activities to bring these innovations closer to the local population and the agricultural sector.
Among the proposals is a fair at the CIM building where companies and organizations connected to the Mar Menor area can showcase their products, services, and projects related to sustainability and agri-food innovation. The idea is for farmers, families, and visitors to see firsthand how efforts are underway to change the current model.
Gastronomy also plays a key role, with live cooking demonstrations by chefs from the Region of Murcia, such as David López, from the Local de Ensayo restaurant . These sessions showcase traditional recipes from the Campo de Cartagena, emphasizing the value of local produce and the area's culinary heritage.
For younger children, robotics, painting, and agriculture workshops are organized , with the aim of familiarizing new generations with concepts such as irrigation automation, biodiversity, and the responsible use of resources. In addition, projects on generational succession and the role of women in rural areas are exhibited , a key aspect for ensuring a lasting change in the agricultural model.
Taken together, these initiatives aim to ensure that the protection of the Mar Menor is not perceived merely as a technical or administrative matter , but as a collective project that touches the local economy, gastronomic culture, education, and social cohesion in the area.
With the combination of high-resolution digital mapping, artificial intelligence, and innovative agriculture , the Mar Menor is entering a phase in which we have a much better understanding of what is happening beneath its surface and what land-based practices can make a difference. The data points to an ecosystem whose balance has shifted and which remains under pressure, but also to the emergence of tools and strategies that, if applied consistently and in a coordinated manner, can help to redirect its future in Spain and serve as a model for other lagoons and coastal areas in Europe.
