Three jet-ski users have been charged by the Guardia Civil for entering into a sea cave within the protected area of the Paraje Natural Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo.

The maritime branch of this police force has identified three of the twelve jet-ski users that took their machines into the Cueva de Las Palomas (La Herradura) on the 20th of June.

An investigation was started three days later into the incident thanks to a video of the ‘excursion’ that was uploaded onto the Internet. Local conservationists were incensed by the disregard of the area’s natural-reserve status.

This cave enjoys special protection thanks to the existence of orange coral (Astroides Calycularis) and the ribbed Mediterranean limpet (Patella Ferruginosa), which are both catalogued as ‘vulnerable species in danger of extinction.’

The Servicio Marítimo de la Guardia Civil also surprised a jet-ski user speeding along at less that 50 metres from the cliff area of the Paraje Natural Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo, next to the Cueva de las Palomas.

All four people will have to answer before a magistrate in the near future.

Editorial comment: the noise generated by these machines is incredible and can clearly be heard by anybody living above on Urb. Monte Almendros or Urb. Costa Aguilera throughout the day. If they were bikers on the road they would have been fined and lost their licences.

(News: Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)