Oceana calls for the immediate closure of the Cabrera refuge, following the release of wastewater into the national park

The refuge must remain closed until there is an adequate wastewater treatment system to ensure protection of key marine ecosystems in the National Park

Press Release Date: September 10, 2014

Location: Madrid

Contact:

Marta Madina | email: mmadina@oceana.org | tel.: Marta Madina

Oceana calls for the immediate closure of the Cabrera refuge until a system of wastewater treatment is put in place in order to purify wastewater, and to ensure that there are no negative effects on the waters of the National Park and its ecosystems.

“At the board meeting of the National Park, we were assured that the opening of this refuge would not impact upon marine ecosystems, and that all mitigation measures had been planned. Evidently, this information given by the Ministry regarding the park, does not match the current situation,” says Xavier Pastor, Executive Director of Oceana in Europe. “It is unacceptable that wastewater is spilling out into a National Park. Therefore, we ask those in charge to step up to their responsibilities.”

Cabrera National Park is the only National Park in the Spanish Mediterranean waters. This area was made into a National Park over 20 years ago, as a result of the important ecosystems and marine species that live there.

Now should be the time to improve the management of the National Park of Cabrera. The boundaries of the park should be expanded to areas where public research institutes, such as the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and the National Research Council (CSIC), and NGOs such as Oceana, have demonstrated the presence of valuable ecosystems such as the Fort d’en Moreu, a coralligenous reef. It should also be expanded to features that the law requires must be included in national parks, such as the Emilie Baudot escarpment.

Oceana is shocked that wastewater discharges have been allowed in an area that should be looked upon as a precious jewel in the Balearic Sea.