How clean is your beach? Mar Menor association wants you to report back

A Mar Menor conservation group is asking swimmers and snorkellers to help track beach and water conditions this summer

The Mar Menor eco- group Por Un Mar Vivo has launched its community science campaign 'We want to know your beach' for the second year running, encouraging people to help build a clearer picture of what is happening along the Mar Menor coastline.

They want swimmers, snorkellers, and regular beachgoers to share what they see in the water and along the shore during their visits this summer. All it takes is a snorkelling mask and a few minutes to complete a short online questionnaire.

The survey covers things like water quality, how clear the sea looks, the condition of the seabed, and whether mud is present. It also asks about marine plants and wildlife, giving organisers a better sense of how the Mar Menor is changing in different areas.

According to the group, the information will be used to build a scientific overview of the Mar Menor based on real observations from the public, alongside more formal technical studies. It will also help compare conditions with those recorded during last year's campaign and help find any noticeable changes.

One of the new additions this year is a focus on recent weather events, known as DANAs, and the impact they may have had on beaches across the lagoon. Participants can note whether the effects they've seen are none, slight, moderate, or severe.

The project also helps track protected species in the area. Sightings of species such as seahorses, pipefish, sea needlefish, or fan mussels can be recorded and passed on to the Hippocampus Association, which tracks and studies their presence.

There is no limit to how many times people can take part, meaning visitors can submit observations throughout the summer whenever they are at the beach. Organisers say the process is quick and easy, and can be done straight from a mobile phone after leaving the water.

Alongside the public survey, a separate technical study will also be carried out, looking at factors such as water temperature, clarity, turbidity, seabed conditions, and the health of seagrass meadows.

The questionnaire itself also asks about things like sand type, litter, how busy the beach is, underwater visibility, and the presence of species such as sea bream and mullet, as well as jellyfish sightings and the overall condition of the beach.

The survey is already live and open to anyone who wants to take part through an online form provided by the organisation.

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Image: Archive