Benidorm Beach Dilemma

it keeps the seas clean and crystal clear

Benidorm council are in a bit of a dilemma about the state of the town's beaches over the winter period. They've decided to carry out an experiment by not clearing away the 'seaweed' which builds up on the shoreline over the winter.

They're doing this for two reasons, the first of which is financial. It cost over €56 per ton to get rid of the dead seaweed – it's cost €230,000 since 2008 and the council will save around €42,000 this winter.

The second and main reason is that the seaweed, an aquatic plant called posidonia, has a beneficial impact on the environment. When alive it keeps the seas clean and crystal clear, and when it dies and washes up on the shore driven by winter currents it actually preserves the shoreline.

When the council clear the posidonia away, they also clear three times the weight in sand, which has meant a loss of beach to the tune of 10 centimtres a year. This may not sound very much but in the 80's Benidorm council had to carry out and expensive sand replacement programme to reinstate both Levante and Poniente beaches to their former glory.

The dilemma comes because the effect on tourism is as yet unknown. The dead seaweed doesn't cause any harm, but it does detract from the visual impact of the beach. Is its presence in the winter months going to affect visitors to the town is the question on everyone's lips.

What do you think of the long term environment v aesthetics poser?

19 December 2011 Stephen White.