La flora autóctona del Estrecho de
Gibraltar comienza a adaptarse a la presencia de la alga invasora Rugulopteryx okamurae en la Bahía
de Algeciras. Es una de las
conclusiones del amplio estudio sobre esta especie realizado por la Universidad de Sevilla con el patrocinio de la
Fundación Cepsa que han sido presentadas este viernes por
el científico José Carlos García en la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Algeciras.
El catedrático de La LíneaJosé Carlos
García ha incidido en que se está apreciando como el ecosistema
local está empezando a regular, creando
microorganismos que viven ya sobre la propia alga,
colocándose encima.
El catedrático inició
su presentación aludiendo a que las conclusiones del estudio, que ha durado
cinco años, son “difíciles de digerir” porque no hay precedente de
ninguna invasión de algas en el mundo de este nivel, con un proceso
reproductivo que la hace intratable,
“por lo que la única esperanza es que el ecosistema local la ponga en su sitio como ha
pasado con otras especies invasoras en otras partes del mundo”.
García ha asegurado que el daño
ecológico -desde 2015 que es cuando se detectó por primera vez- ha sido “estratosférico“. Se trata de
una especie competitiva de primer orden con una gran capacidad de adaptación a
una zona que no es suya y que además está cargada de sustancias químicas que la
hacen prácticamente incomestible para
la fauna.
La investigación, que se ha realizado en
prácticamente toda la Bahía de Algeciras, estudiando tanto la superficie como
debajo del agua, ha abierto otras líneas de trabajo en un ámbito más positivo
para aprovechar estas algas. Se trata de la realización de fertilizantes de calidad en los
que trabaja la Universidad de
Sevilla en colaboración con la Universidad de Extremadura; la
creación de biometano y
productos farmacológicos y
de parafarmacia,
donde ha empezado a trabajar la Facultad de Farmacia de la Universidad de
Sevilla.
García ha añadido que la arribazón que sale a la playa
es el principal problema al que tienen que enfrentarse los ayuntamientos, limpiando las playas,
muchas veces llevándose la arena con las palas, pero apuntó que el impacto real
está debajo del agua dónde se ve que “se lo ha llevado todo por
delante”.
El estudio informa de las diferentes
vertientes de entrada de la alga asiática en el Estrecho. El científico insiste en
que los plásticos han
tenido mucho que ver en su expansión. La especie invasora se coloca sobre este
material flotante y se hunden ayudando a su dispersión. Asegura que el agua de lastre ha sido uno de
las entradas pero no la más importante, el transporte de mercancías y la
descontrol de la acuicultura -crianza
de especies acuáticas vegetales y animales-, han tenido mucho que ver, según
García. “En el Mediterráneo
oriental, la entrada del alga que ya se está viendo en Marsella y otros puntos ha sido
por la acuicultura”, apunta García.
El biofuling, incrustaciones de micoorganismos en los cascos
de los barcos, es otra de las vías de entrada importante a través de las
embarcaciones de recreo que permanecen años atracadas en puertos.
En cuanto a la dispersión de la Rugulopteryx okamurae,la investigación concluye que se
adapta también a la zona umbría y se sitúa en las rocas. “Con las cámaras
instaladas hemos visto como rodean a las algas locales y le quitan el
sitio”, asegura García. “Ha cambiado el ecosistema pero hay
algunos aspectos positivos. Los peces se están comiendo los crustáceos que ya
viven sobre las algas”, concluye el científico.
‘Climate Change is in the spotlight with COP28 currently underway in Dubai. Amidst controversies surrounding this oil-producing nation hosting such an event, there is regardless intense discussion and pressure for the necessary actions to be taken urgently. The Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Dr. John Cortes, is present at this conference and we hope it will also translate into action taken in Gibraltar.
We have yet to see a date announced for the long-awaited first sitting of the Cross Party Parliamentary Select Committee on Climate Change, to be held before the end of the year as promised by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo during the last elections and reiterated at a recent parliamentary session.
“We hope to hear from the Minister of his plans at such a meeting, following his attendance at COP28,” said a spokesperson.’
The ESG welcomes the announcement of
Transport now forming part of the Ministry for the Environments
responsibilities. Transport in Gibraltar has long been an issue of concern to
the group given the serious environmental and public health impacts from this
activity. It believes air pollution and climate change factors, as laid out in
Gibraltar’s Climate Strategy, underpins the need for urgent action in this
area.
The ESG has published its wish list in many
areas including Road Transport issues since 2003. Among our urgent objectives
are:
– The need to launch and enforce the anti
idling law, especially in vulnerable locations such as schools, all bus stops
(Govt and Private), taxi ranks, coach parks and at popular tourist sites.
– The need to replace all second hand
buses, which fail EU emission standards in place to protect public health, with
clean alternatives.
– Thirdly we need to update our MOT
emission standards, which permits vehicles
to pollute to their date of manufacture allowing emission of dangerous
levels of pollutants. These are especially harmful to the young and the
elderly.
On an ongoing basis there are several other
issues we are concerned about regarding impacts from Transport that we will
take up with the new Minister for Transport as soon as we are given a meeting
date.
For those
interested please search our website for our 2019 List of Objectives which
carries a detailed look at our long-term issues.
The ESG has learnt of a quayside LNG bunkering transaction
that recently took place in Gibraltar from an announcement on Facebook by the
previous Minister of the Port. Subsequent enquiries with the Ministry for the
Environment confirm that a cruise ship, the Silver Nova, did receive LNG bunker
from a barge, at quayside, on her inaugural call to Gibraltar.
The ESG has publicly voiced its strong concerns in the past
over the potential for growth of LNG activity at port side from the LNG Storage
facility and sought information from the authorities on this announcement.
The group was provided with safety assessment reports commissioned
by the Port produced some years ago for such transactions and licensing, as
well as a separate detailed report for this specific vessel and date. It
appears that a barge supplied the fuel but this needs further clarification.
While it’s clear that safety assessments were carried out
this new step has not been processed before DPC, or, to our knowledge, had
cross-departmental oversight. Industrial activities do not operate in a bubble
and require all impacts concerning public health and the environment to be
closely studied with the public informed.
The ESG understands that LNG reduces pollution and believes
it has a role to play on the path towards fully renewable and sustainable
shipping fuels.
The group strongly urges Government to review this new
activity and ensure that full provision of information for intended LNG
transactions of this nature go through public process and due protocols before
any further transactions are carried out.
“The
ESG is quite disappointed with the lack of discussion on Climate Change, the
environment and pollution during recent election debates; issues which
greatly affect our quality of life and will increasingly impact future
generations.
In
an appeal to the media and political parties the ESG calls for these critical
issues to be included in the debates so we can understand the commitment held
by candidates and parties on these issues.
As
has been said often times in the past couple of elections: the environment is
no longer the remit of ‘NGOs or the hippie fraternity’, but key and
difficult issues that need to be central to all decision making by
Government.
Barely a word has been said acknowledging the importance the environment, our nest and home, carries for our health, safety and stability. We hope to hear full debates on these issues and also look forward to interactive public sessions where the community can raise these crucial topics with candidates.”
Organisers of the 19th
annual Clean up the World are extremely grateful to Team Leaders and
volunteers, essential agencies, services, specialists and contractors for the
energy and civic pride displayed throughout the clean up activity this weekend.
The phenomena that the community wide Clean up has become did not disappoint
with over 450 hard working citizens of all ages doing their best to help clear litter
and other waste left by thoughtless people and businesses.
17 areas, many of
them habitats, saw a thorough going over by busy teams leaving them pristine
and cleared from food related waste to commercial and industrial material. Our
seafronts, green areas, nature and marine reserves, underwater and hard to
access sites as well as some town areas were tackled with verve and purpose.
This effort must surely be followed by increased surveillance, fines and
visible deterrents to reduce the pattern of wanton and daily littering and fly
tipping.
25 teams made up of
schools, associations, companies and agencies worked throughout most of
Gibraltar tackling lightly littered areas and major hotspots. Seven Sisters saw
an unexpectedly major haul of historic fly tipping with the Prison Car Park
area another hotspot. Britannia Services closely collaborated here for which we
are most thankful.
Overall a larger haul
this year resulting from the excellent effort by teams and close support of
Britannia who recognises the educational benefits of the Clean up Campaign and also
tackled areas with us.
Thanks to all
involved which resulted in the collection of 12 large truckloads and 3 vanloads
of waste to the open quarry where a symbolic mountain was created driving the
message home that we still have a lot to do as a community before we can hang
up our boots on this important issue anytime soon.
Thanks to the Dept of Environment, Britannia, Bassadone, Wildlife Gibraltar, GibSubAqua888 and our own steering team for their help and participation on the day. Thanks go to ALL volunteers and supporters.
A fuller report will be published soon.
Watch out for a
special film on the Clean up coming out soon.
The ESG is pleased to confirm strong
support once again from the Gibraltar community for the global Clean up the
World Event taking place Saturday 23rd September. Millions of volunteers
in 100s of countries will be taking action in their neighbourhoods to help
their environment. With the long established theme ‘Our Place, Our Planet,
Our Responsibility’, this campaign provides an opportunity to give
something back to the natural environment we so enjoy while exercising civic
pride and respect for our surroundings. It also places a spotlight on ongoing
problems regarding littering and fly tipping.
Over 25 teams, including several schools,
will be equipped and ready to go Saturday morning, tackling multiple sites throughout
Gibraltar ranging from green areas, coastal, open and underwater as well as
urban sites. These partnerships have become well established over time and are
deeply appreciated. The campaign also sees essential support from agencies and
specialists so that difficult to access areas are included. Special mention must
be given to the Department of the Environment and Britannia for their
assistance with logistics involved at some sites.
With the summer dominated somewhat with
oil related pollution from the shipping world we now turn our sights to homegrown
waste which continues to pervade and mar our beautiful Gibraltar.
The Clean up Campaign will stimulate
discussion and highlight issues among those who take part and reach the wider
community via the media. Among key aims are:
Greater
visibility of fines and enforcement of dumping and littering rules to act as a
real deterrent
Increased
and improved facilities and more signage to be displayed to promote pride in
our environment (info for residents/ rubble tipping/ rubbish in hotspots)
Stricter
monitoring of shared public spaces used by businesses and the community often
leading to dangerous conditions and eyesores
While teams can no longer apply, fit and
active people are welcome to get in touch to be added to existing teams before
Wednesday the 20th. Please email to: esg@gibtelecom.net
Reports on the outcome of the busy day
will be published in the media.
Visit esg-gib.net for posters and other
information over the next week.
