Murcia to Spend €1 Million Buying Land to Protect the Mar Menor

€1 Million to Expand the Mar Menor's Natural Defences

The regional government of Murcia has allocated €1 million this year to purchase land surrounding the Mar Menor lagoon — one of the largest saltwater lagoons in Europe and one of the most environmentally sensitive bodies of water in Spain.

The investment targets plots with high environmental value and strong restoration potential, with the aim of expanding the protected buffer zones that act as natural filters around the lagoon's edges.

How the Land Works as a Natural Filter

The Mar Menor has suffered significantly in recent decades from agricultural runoff, including nutrients and sediments washed into the lagoon during heavy rainfall. The acquired land will be used to create buffer strips — bands of wetland vegetation that absorb pollutants before they reach the water.

As officials explained: "Wetlands and natural areas act as a kind of green sponge, absorbing some of that before it reaches the water."

The regional government currently manages 829 hectares of protected wetlands around the Mar Menor that already serve this filtration function. The new purchases will extend that protected area further.

Why Land Details Are Kept Confidential

Notably, officials are keeping the specific properties under consideration confidential during negotiations. The reason is straightforward: if landowners know their plots are being targeted for purchase by the regional government, they may raise asking prices before deals can be finalised. By keeping acquisition targets private, the government aims to secure land at fair market value.

Part of a Much Larger Programme

The land purchase is one strand of a much broader effort to restore and protect the Mar Menor. The region currently operates over 200 separate projects around the lagoon, with a total annual investment exceeding €104 million.

One of the most significant recent initiatives was the El Carmolí wetland restoration project, which involved:

• Expropriating 300 hectares of land
• Removing an airstrip that had occupied part of the wetland area
• Planting more than 18,000 plants to restore native vegetation

Why the Mar Menor Matters

The Mar Menor is a defining feature of the Murcia coastline and a major draw for residents and visitors alike. Its shallow, warm, calm waters make it popular for swimming, sailing and water sports — and it sits at the heart of the local economy along the La Manga strip.

But the lagoon has faced serious ecological crises in recent years, most visibly in 2019 and 2021 when mass fish deaths shocked the region and drew national attention. Those events prompted Spain's parliament to pass a landmark law granting the Mar Menor legal personhood — a first in Europe — giving it standing to be legally defended against damage.

The ongoing land acquisition programme is part of the long-term effort to ensure those environmental crises are not repeated.

This article is based on reporting from Murcia Today, published April 23, 2026.