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A second farm manager has been handed a conviction for polluting the Mar Menor lagoon by illegally dumping nitrate-contaminated water from an unauthorised desalination plant. The judge sentenced JSSM, manager of Agroexplotaciones La Cabaña SL in Torre Pacheco, to a year in prison for environmental negligence, although the prison sentence is suspended as long as no further offences occur.

 

Along with a fine of around €2,100, JSSM must pay compensation just over €116,000 for the damage caused. About €34,000 goes to the Murcia regional government, tasked with restoring the lagoon, with the rest paid to the national government.

 

This ruling follows a similar case last year where another agricultural business owner admitted to nitrate dumping and was fined over €17,000 with a 12-month suspended sentence.

 

The issue revolves around the illegal operation of desalination plants that remove nitrates from water taken from local aquifers. The byproduct brine, often dumped into ravines near the lagoon, risks further polluting this fragile ecosystem.

 

The Public Prosecutor’s Office says dozens more trials are lined up in Cartagena and Murcia, targeting agricultural firms believed to have contributed to the lagoon’s woes. It’s a long legal battle to hold polluters responsible and protect the Mar Menor’s unique environment.

 

While the large fines and convictions may sound overly harsh, officials say they need to be “proportional” to the damage and are a crucial step in showing there’s no excuse for polluting one of Spain’s natural treasures. The goal is to encourage farms to adopt more sustainable practices and help preserve the lagoon for future generations.

 

 

Image: Guardia Civil