RESIDENTS in Gibraltar have noticed unusually murky water around The Rock’s east coast, but developers of a big coastal project assure it’s not pollution.
The British Overseas Territory is turning heads and raising concerns over whether a dark stain in the ocean is being caused by pollution.
People have spotted an unusually cloudy mark across the water caused by Gibraltar’s biggest coastal project.
This isn’t the first instance of the strange ocean water phenomenon, as residents have seen the same issue before from the Eastside urban and port projects taking place.
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Despite locals and environmentalists raising alarm online over the potential landfill products being dumped into a ‘highly sensitive area’ of the Strait of Gibraltar, the development company has assured that it is not polluted.
Instead, the dark coloured water is visible due to fine sand and sediment being stirred up.
Eastside project works’ company explained that the murky water is typical in maritime work, and that ‘the stronger the currents, the more visible it is,’ holding to their stance that ‘it’s not pollution.’
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However, environmentalists are not so convinced that’s the end of the story.
They have requested for independent monitoring of the project to ensure that marine life isn’t being harmed in the process of the project.
The Eastside project involves building new land out into the sea by digging up material from the seabed and using it as landfill.
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Similar arguments have happened during other big port projects, like in Valencia.
Authorities had to consider measures for the expansion of Port of Valencia causing turbidity in the beaches of El Saler and within Albufera Natural Park.
To help prevent the unusual cloudy water, technical reports suggested the installation of anti-turbidity barriers to minimise suspended sediments during dredging.
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