An environmental group has raised the alarm after black carbon residue and traces of hydrocarbons were found washed up on the shores of the Campo de Gibraltar.
Verdemar Ecologistas en Accion filed a formal complaint on Wednesday, January 14, after detecting dark streaks of carbon-like material embedded in the sand on Playa de Getares, along with balls and residues of hydrocarbons along the shoreline.
The group warned that the incident could be linked to maritime activity and may breach Andalucia’s regulations.
According to Verdemar spokesperson Antonio Muñoz Secilla, the material was discovered in linear formations typical of pollution washed ashore.
Municipal cleaning teams from the Algeciras council removed the visible hydrocarbon residues during the morning, but the environmental group says this does not resolve the underlying issue.
Verdemar believes the carbon residue may be linked to boiler blowdowns from ships, a practice associated with certain maritime operations, although it has not ruled out runoff from a previously burned area.
As for the hydrocarbons, the group points to possible ballast water discharges or other manoeuvres by vessels operating in nearby waters.
The organisation has formally requested that the substances be sampled and analysed to determine whether the pollution originated from a vessel and, if so, to establish responsibility.
It has also asked to be recognised as an interested party in any enforcement or legal proceedings that follow.
Verdemar warns that the incident could contravene Andalucian Decree 109/2015, which regulates discharges into public hydraulic and maritime–terrestrial domains, and is urging authorities to fully clarify what happened.
Getares is one of Algeciras’ most popular urban beaches, and the group says repeated or unresolved pollution incidents risk long-term environmental damage unless stricter controls and accountability are enforced.
