The Marilles Foundation highlights the main factors driving the degradation of seawater quality in the Balearic Islands in an article.
Water quality in the Balearic Sea was the focus of the closing session of the 2nd Conference on the Conservation of Marine Biodiversity in the Balearic Islands, organised by Marilles Foundation and the Sa Nostra Foundation in October 2025. Scientists and experts discussed the main pressures affecting coastal waters, from wastewater and stormwater management to impacts on Posidonia meadows, drawing on long-term monitoring data and field experience.
The Marilles Foundation highlights the main factors driving the degradation of seawater quality in the Balearic Islands, including wastewater discharges, storm overflows, nutrient pollution, plastics, heavy metals and physical disturbances, compounded by climate change. It shows how these pressures are affecting overall ecosystem health. It also notes that targeted management measures can lead to recovery, underlining the importance of coordinated action and long-term monitoring to reverse current trends.