Cabo de Gata residents have continued to voice their dissatisfaction with Las Salinas. They have started to mobilize after the loss of the channel that fed this natural space in Almeria, which now displays some empty pools of birds and flamingos, and they are looking for answers.
They are expected to hold a sit-in as a spontaneous protest at the Las Salinas viewpoint at Cabo de Gata’s entrance. A human chain will be used to transport buckets of seawater from the tower at San Miguel to the nearest water source. Saturday’s event will take place from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. This chain serves as a symbol that citizens will not be able to remain still because of inaction by the Union Salinera and the administration.
They demand that all who support the cultural project “Cabo Gata me Mata” have a maximum amount of participation in their social networks.
The Mediterranean Ecologist Group (GEM), which is composed of experts from the Mediterranean Ecologist Group, has denounced negligence by the Junta de Andalucia and the responsible company. “It is a problem, that has been known since months, because of the torrential rainfalls that occurred during spring.”
The Environment Department requested that Union Salinera (the company that operates the salt extraction plants) address the issue that was found in the enclave to ensure that the wetland can return to its normal state. Raquel Espin (territorial delegate for Sustainable Development) was charged with urging Union Salinera to restore seawater supply to Las Salinas as soon as possible.
The damaged channel is in a complicated situation. It has an obstruction within 400m of the gallery. This requires a specialist company to repair it. Espin noted that there were several options for dealing with this problem. These included the placement of a bomb to ensure the tunnel is free from heavy machinery, or even the installation of an underground pipeline.
The Andalusian Government’s explanations were not enough to satisfy the conservationist group ‘Amigos del Parque” who announced in a statement, that they will be taking the Provincial Prosecutor for Almeria “to Junta de Andalucia or Union Salinera for inaction prior to the desiccation the Salinas de Cabo de Gata>>. It will inform the Public Ministry about the “environmental damage” that has been done, including the escape of flamingos from space and birds from outer space. One of the flamingo specimens was saved in disorientation close to the Port of Carboneras.
