The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria city council has launched an intensive cleanup operation along its coastline due to a massive accumulation of marine vegetation . In just seven days, maintenance teams have removed over 100 tons of organic debris that had colonized the Cono Sur area.
This measure has been implemented by the City of the Sea Council to combat the health risks posed by decomposing material. The authorities' priority is to ensure that the foul odor and putrefaction of the plant remains do not affect residents or those strolling along the coastline.
Critical areas and operational deployment
The operation, carried out by the concessionaire FCC, focused particularly on the San Cristóbal fishing district and the natural pools of La Laja. In these areas, the amount of organic matter was so high that it had formed veritable mounds that hindered the normal use of public spaces and swimming.
Over the past weekend, the intensity of the cleanup efforts increased considerably. It is estimated that more than 60.000 kilos of seaweed and algae were collected in those two days alone, using both heavy machinery and cleaning crews on foot to cover every corner of the coastline.
Among the worst affected areas, the team focused on thoroughly cleaning La Puntilla beach , next to the fishing pier, and the area around the San Pedro Tower. The accumulation has been so significant that the impact has extended beyond the beach, with the stench noticeable on the GC-1 highway and in the vicinity of the Insular-Maternal and Child University Hospital Complex.
The problem of invasive species
Much of this volume of marine flora corresponds to Rugulopteryx okamurae , a species of Asian origin that has become invasive in the waters around the Canary Islands. This plant has spread rapidly across the seabed of the bay, causing increasingly frequent mass wash-ups on the shore .
Despite the urgency of the cleanup, the municipality has emphasized that these plants are part of the archipelago's marine ecosystem . Therefore, removals are carried out under strict control, with intervention occurring only when the excess organic matter compromises the safety or well-being of the public.
Coastal surveillance will continue to monitor the evolution of these plant deposits. Reactive measures will continue to be taken in areas where tidal and wind forces deposit excessive amounts of algae that are a nuisance to the population.
The coordinated intervention has allowed the removal of more than 100.000 kilos of plant waste, mainly the invasive species Rugulopteryx okamurae, cleaning key points such as La Laja and San Cristóbal to eliminate bad smells and restore the health of the coastal environment of Las Palmas.
