The beach of San Antolín, in the parish of Naves (Llanes), has been experiencing an unusual and worrying situation for more than a week. Hundreds de peces dead bodies have appeared In the final stretch of the Bedón River, right where the riverbed meets the sea, the stench is unbearable, and residents fear the problem will worsen if action isn't taken quickly.
The first dead fish appeared approximately ten days ago. Since then, the Llanes Town Council has mobilized all the relevant authorities: the Cantabrian Hydrographic Confederation (CHC), the Coastal Authority, the Seprona (Nature Protection Service) of the Civil Guard, and the Government of the Principality of Asturias. The Councilor for Beaches, Priscila Alonso, explained that they are removing the dead fish as they appear, but the definitive solution involves opening the river mouth, something that has not yet been authorized.
A natural barrier that is suffocating the river
Inspections carried out by the CHC have determined that the mortality is not related to polluting spills. The problem is the closure of the river mouth due to the accumulation of sand and pebbles.As a consequence of the recent storms at sea, the river has become dammed, and the only exchange of water with the sea occurs through seepage through this natural barrier. This has led to a depletion of dissolved oxygen, causing a mass die-off. de peces.
The Confederation stated that the affected area belongs to the public maritime-terrestrial domain, and therefore falls outside its jurisdiction. Nevertheless, they inspected the riverbed upstream to rule out any spills . They found nothing suspicious. Nor did the livestock farm closest to the river mouth show any signs of manure or direct discharges.
With no trace of spills, now awaiting permits
On July 15, environmental agents from the Principality of Asturias inspected the river upstream and confirmed there were no spills. The only dead fish were concentrated in the stagnant area of the estuary , reinforcing the hypothesis of oxygen depletion. The Ebro River Basin Authority (CHC) offered its collaboration in the investigation, but the focus remains on the need to open a channel to allow for natural drainage.
The Llanes Town Council requested permission from the Coastal Authority several days ago to open the beach. Authorization has yet to be granted, and more dead animals are appearing daily . Meanwhile, the nauseating odor extends to within meters of the bathing area, causing discomfort among bathers and residents.
The situation is critical and local authorities are demanding an urgent response. The mortality de peces In Llanes, it has become an environmental and health problem. which requires an immediate solution to prevent irreversible damage to the Bedón River ecosystem.