12 The Spanish Mediterranean Coasts
J. ROMERO\ F.X. NIELL2, A. MARTINEZ-ARROyd, M. PEREZl, and J. CAMp4
12.1 Introduction
The Mediterranean coastline of Spain is subjected to high human pressure, caused by both permanent and seasonal populations. For a total
length of coast of about 2200 km, the population living within 5 -10 km
of the coast is around 6 million people. In addition, the coastal areas
receive about 6 million visitors annually, most of them in summer. The
extent to which the wastewater from this population is treated before it
returns to the environment is unknown, and very variable, depending on
the area and on the season. These wastes may thus constitute chronic or
seasonal sources of pollution.
Industrial activity is locally intense, especially around large cities
(Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Cartagena), and mining wastes are
dumped into the water in some areas, inducing zones of acute pollution.
Agricultural pollutants have a diffuse, but not significant influence on
coastal waters. Permanent rivers are additional sources of different kinds
of pollutants, although such rivers are scarce. The Ebro is the only large
river in the Spanish Mediterranean coast (Fig. 12.1). In the Archipelago
of the Balearic Islands (Fig. 12.1), with several sites of natural interest,
tourism is the most important source of pollution.
There is a general agreement that high nutrient concentration in the
water is a key variable for algal production. In the unpolluted areas of
the Mediterranean coast, concentrations are low [0-5 (10-25) !lmol
dm -3 N0 3 -N; 0-0.1 (0.3) !lmol dm -3 P0 4 -P; Romero 1985; Ballesteros
IDepartment of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
2Department of Ecology, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071 Malaga, Spain
3Centro de Ciencias de la Atm6sfera, Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de Mexico, CP
04510 Mexico DF, Mexico
4Instituto de Ciencias del Mar, CSIC, Paseo Nacional sIn, Barcelona, Spain
Ecological Studies, Vol. 123
Schramm/Nienhuis (eds) Marine Benthic Vegetation
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1996
J. ROMERO\ F.X. NIELL2, A. MARTINEZ-ARROyd, M. PEREZl, and J. CAMp4
12.1 Introduction
The Mediterranean coastline of Spain is subjected to high human pressure, caused by both permanent and seasonal populations. For a total
length of coast of about 2200 km, the population living within 5 -10 km
of the coast is around 6 million people. In addition, the coastal areas
receive about 6 million visitors annually, most of them in summer. The
extent to which the wastewater from this population is treated before it
returns to the environment is unknown, and very variable, depending on
the area and on the season. These wastes may thus constitute chronic or
seasonal sources of pollution.
Industrial activity is locally intense, especially around large cities
(Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Cartagena), and mining wastes are
dumped into the water in some areas, inducing zones of acute pollution.
Agricultural pollutants have a diffuse, but not significant influence on
coastal waters. Permanent rivers are additional sources of different kinds
of pollutants, although such rivers are scarce. The Ebro is the only large
river in the Spanish Mediterranean coast (Fig. 12.1). In the Archipelago
of the Balearic Islands (Fig. 12.1), with several sites of natural interest,
tourism is the most important source of pollution.
There is a general agreement that high nutrient concentration in the
water is a key variable for algal production. In the unpolluted areas of
the Mediterranean coast, concentrations are low [0-5 (10-25) !lmol
dm -3 N0 3 -N; 0-0.1 (0.3) !lmol dm -3 P0 4 -P; Romero 1985; Ballesteros
IDepartment of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
2Department of Ecology, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071 Malaga, Spain
3Centro de Ciencias de la Atm6sfera, Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de Mexico, CP
04510 Mexico DF, Mexico
4Instituto de Ciencias del Mar, CSIC, Paseo Nacional sIn, Barcelona, Spain
Ecological Studies, Vol. 123
Schramm/Nienhuis (eds) Marine Benthic Vegetation
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1996