RESTORE - Mar Menor

Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, the Mar Menor in southeastern Spain, has been pushed to the brink by decades of pollution from intensive farming, mining, and urban development. Once a thriving ecosystem, the lagoon suffered catastrophic fish die-offs and the collapse of its seagrass meadows after years of nutrient overload and neglect.

Public outrage has transformed the Mar Menor into a symbol of environmental justice. Massive protests and a petition of over half a million signatures led to a historic law granting the lagoon legal personhood — the first of its kind in Europe.

Now, Spain’s biggest-ever ecosystem restoration plan aims to tackle the root causes of the crisis. Experts say recovery will take decades, but if successful, it could offer a blueprint for a more sustainable and legally protected future for ecosystems across the continent.