Coinciding with the start of summer, citizens, residents, sea users, and groups interested in coastal conservation have requested that competent authorities create a marine corridor free of jet skis in La Herradura Bay.

This corridor would connect two protected areas within the Natura 2000 network: the Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo and the Zona Especial de Conservación (ZEC) de los Fondos Marinos de Tesorillo-Salobreña.

The proposal seeks to provide ecological and functional continuity to two marine areas where important environmental protection measures already exist and where the use of jet skis is restricted or limited for safety and conservation reasons.

However, the bay located between these two areas remains open to an activity that generates noise, disturbs swimmers and boaters, poses risks to marine life, and frequently invades protected zones.

The promoters of the corridors consider La Herradura Bay to be an exceptional enclave due to its coral reefs and the seasonal presence of cetaceans, as well as its importance for sustainable activities such as swimming, diving, kayaking, paddle surfing, and low-impact recreational boating.

“Protecting the bay would create a continuous corridor of tranquility and conservation between two already protected areas, reinforcing maritime safety and improving the experience for residents and visitors,” states Bahía Tranquila, an independent citizen platform. Citizens point out that other protected natural areas on the Andalusian coast, such as the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, have adopted similar measures to reconcile public use with the conservation of valuable marine habitats.

The initiative requests that the Regional Government of Andalucía (Junta de Andalucía), the Maritime Authority of Motril, the Almuñécar Town Council and other competent administrations study the feasibility of establishing a jet ski-free zone in the bay, thereby creating an effective connection between both protected marine areas.

Bahía Tranquila is an independent citizen platform for marine protection and sustainable tourism in La Herradura Bay. Bahía Tranquila – La Herradura has more than 500 members on Facebook and the latest Change.org petition in 2024 against the use of jet skis in the bay obtained more than 10,000 signatures.

CONTACT:

Teresa Gonzalez or Gráinne Mary Ryder Bahía Tranquila

bahiatranquila.laherradura@gmail.com

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

Keywords: Jet-Ski Nuisance, Protected Areas, Corridor, No Jet Skis, Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo, Zona Especial de Conservación (ZEC) de los Fondos Marinos de Tesorillo-Salobreña.

news, andalucia, granada, costa tropical, herradura, jet-ski nuisance, protected areas, corridor, no jet skis, acantilados de maro-cerro gordo, zona especial de conservación (zec) de los fondos marinos de tesorillo-salobreña.