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Date Published: 03/03/2025

Ecological alarm in Marbella: Mass fish deaths in Turtle Lake

Hundreds of fish found dead following recent relocations from Las Medranas reservoir

Residents of Marbella were shocked on Sunday March 2 as hundreds of dead fish surfaced in Lago de Tortugas (Turtle Lake), a popular spot in the Nueva Andalucía area. This incident follows the recent transfer of aquatic life from the nearby Las Medranas reservoir, which was emptied for maintenance work.

The relocation, carried out in late January, involved moving fish and turtles from Las Medranas to Turtle Lake to safeguard them during the reservoir's rehabilitation. However, the discovery of numerous dead fish has raised serious environmental concerns.

Isabel Pérez, spokesperson for the Socialist Group in Marbella's Town Hall, described the situation as an "unprecedented ecological disaster" for the municipality. Environmental activists and local residents have echoed these sentiments, criticising the management of the wildlife transfer and the maintenance work at Las Medranas.

Reports suggest that the method used to relocate the animals may have been inadequate, potentially leading to a hypoxic event—a sudden drop in oxygen levels—in Turtle Lake. This lack of oxygen could have resulted in the mass fish deaths observed.

The Marbella City Council, led by Mayor Ángeles Muñoz, has defended its actions, stating that all procedures were conducted in collaboration with the Andalusian regional government and technical experts, with public safety as the priority. The council has allocated €500,000 for further improvements to the reservoir.

Environmental activists, however, have criticised the handling of the animal relocation. The Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) labelled the transfer as negligent, alleging that the sudden opening of a sluice gate led to uncontrolled water flow, resulting in the death of numerous fish and turtles. PACMA is considering legal action against those responsible and has called for the Marbella City Council to assume responsibility for the incident.

Image: Tien Vu NGOC/Unsplash

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