Tourists have been warned that their favorite beaches on Mallorca are overrun with “exotic” seaweed and could soon turn brown.
The Balearic Islands are home to many attractive destinations, including the popular island of Mallorca.
But experts say sunny coastlines are now concerned that a type of brown algae could be carried onto the shore.
Rugropteryx okamurae is a species of algae that is native to the Pacific Ocean, but has invaded both the Atlantic and Mediterranean Seas, and is now reaching the Balearic Islands, where it continues to spread.
Seaweeds occupy the ocean floor until they completely cover it, and with a high rate of reproduction, they constantly release plant debris, which rises to the surface and is transferred to the coast by ocean currents, sometimes covering the entire coast.
The algae was first discovered in the city of Ceuta in 2015 and has since rapidly proliferated on Spain's worst-hit Andalusian coast.
Several other places have also been affected, including Murcia, Valencia and Tarifa, where city halls have said they cannot pay to remove algae from their beaches.
Now, according to a report in the Mallorcan daily newspaper, a warning has been issued for Mallorca's coastline after algae was discovered in the port of Barcelona.
Fiona Thomas, a researcher at the IMEDEA Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies, believes a route from Barcelona could reach the Balearic Islands.
She said: “We must act in time because we have the knowledge and can implement effective preventive controls to avoid invasion or at least minimize its impact. ” he said.
The researchers emphasized the importance of preventing seaweed from reaching the islands.
Maria Altamirano, professor of botany and plant physiology at the University of Malaga, said: “Although it has not yet been detected, the Balearic Islands are a very favorable region for the growth of this fungus. Authorities are trying to minimize its spread. We should consider reducing this.”
Catalonia has had an invasive algae monitoring system in place for more than 20 years. However, no such regulations are in place in the Balearic Islands.
