Why Europe's largest saltwater lagoon is now considered a legal entity

Welcome to Call to Earth, a CNN editorial series dedicated to highlighting the environmental issues impacting our planet and showcasing solutions. In partnership with Rolex's Perpetual Planet initiative, we aim to raise awareness and promote education on key sustainability issues to encourage positive change.

Located on the southeastern coast of Spain, Mar Menor is Europe's largest saltwater lagoon. With a strip of sand separating it from the Mediterranean, this 52-square-mile area boasts warm shallow waters and beautiful beaches that attract tourists from around the world.

The once clear waters of the lagoon have become murky due to algal blooms, resulting in dead fish washing up on the shores and a foul stench of decay replacing the fresh and salty scent.

This decline in water quality has led to a decrease in house prices, a drop in tourist revenue, and anger among local residents. However, one resident came up with a unique idea to protect the lagoon: granting it legal rights similar to those of a person. This would give the lagoon the right to exist and protection against further harm.

Teresa Vicente, a professor of philosophy of law at the local University of Murcia, first raised these questions in 2019. Three years later, after a strong campaign, Mar Menor became the first ecosystem in Europe to be granted legal personhood rights.

Today, Vicente was honored with the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize. This award is given annually to six grassroots environmental leaders, each representing a different continent. Her legal approach, which allows citizens to advocate for nature, was praised for establishing "a significant precedent for democratizing environmental protection and enhancing the role of civil society in environmental advocacy."

A strip of sand, known as La Manga, separates the lagoon from the Mediterranean Sea. Today, the strip is dense with buildings.

A strip of sand, known as La Manga, separates the lagoon from the Mediterranean Sea. Today, the strip is dense with buildings.

Jose Guerrero/AFP/Getty Images

Ecological disaster

Vicente, who is 61 years old, has always called the region of Murcia her home. Her earliest memories of the lagoon date back to her childhood, where she spent carefree days playing in the water wearing shorts and t-shirts. As a teenager, she enjoyed beach parties and marveled at the crystal-clear water. According to Vicente, the lagoon held a special place in her heart as it was everything to her.

However, changes began to take place a few decades ago. The area experienced a surge in development, with high-rise apartment buildings now lining the sandbank that once separated the lagoon from the ocean. Plastic pollution became more prevalent, and intensive agriculture saw a significant increase. In 1979, a new canal was opened to provide irrigation to the region, propelling Murcia into a farming powerhouse. Today, the region accounts for 20% of Spain's fruit and vegetable exports, shipping out over 2.5 million tons annually, including lettuce, broccoli, lemons, and artichokes.

Teresa Vicente, 61, has been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her successful campaign to grant Mar Menor legal personhood rights.

Teresa Vicente, 61, has been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her successful campaign to grant Mar Menor legal personhood rights.

The Goldman Environmental Prize is a prestigious award given to individuals who have made significant contributions to environmental protection. One such example of environmental degradation is the situation in a lagoon where waters have been warmed by climate change, leading to a recipe for disaster. Run-offs from fertilizers filled with nitrates have entered the lagoon, causing extreme eutrophication. This has resulted in the accumulation of algae, depleting the water of oxygen. As a consequence, there have been three mass die-offs of fish and crustaceans since 2016, mussel populations have collapsed, and 85% of the lagoon's seagrass has died.

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After the 2019 die-off, where three tons of dead fish washed up on the shores, Vicente felt the urge to take action. While she was at a fellowship in the UK, her students in Murcia informed her of the situation. Without hesitation, she returned to Murcia to put her theories into practice, stating, "I wanted to start implementing the theory into law."

The right to exist is a fundamental concept that Vicente believes in.

Granting legal personhood to nature, also known as "rights of nature," has been a topic of debate for a long time. However, it has gained significant traction in recent years. In the past decade, notable ecosystems like the Atrato River in Colombia and New Zealand's Whanganui River have been given this status.

In 2021, a thick algal bloom resulted in five tons of sea creatures washing up on beaches around the lagoon, including this crab.

In 2021, a thick algal bloom resulted in five tons of sea creatures washing up on beaches around the lagoon, including this crab.

Jose Miguel Fernandez/AFP/Getty Images

Vicente was inspired by other successful conservation efforts to take action for Mar Menor. Despite existing protections on paper, such as Ramsar and Special Protection Area designations, the lagoon was still suffering from severe pollution. She felt the need to do more than rely on these protections.

To make a difference, Vicente started by raising awareness through a local newspaper article. Despite facing initial opposition, she gained support from riverbank communities affected by the pollution. By 2021, she had gathered over 600,000 signatures, more than enough to propose a bill. This led to public demonstrations, meetings with government officials, and media interviews to push for change.

Finally, in September 2022, the bill was passed into law by Spain's senate thanks to Vicente's dedication and the support of the community.

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Less than two years after the legislation, Mar Menor has not magically bounced back. The recovery process will take time, but the lagoon now has legal protection for conservation and restoration efforts. Three new groups, made up of government officials, scientists, and local residents, have been put in charge of ensuring the laws are followed. While the lagoon cannot speak for itself, any citizen now has the right to take legal action on its behalf.

Vicente is optimistic that the new legal framework will help stop the pollution, particularly the nitrates from farming, from harming the lagoon further. She believes that using natural solutions can begin the process of healing and rejuvenating the area.

“Right now, Mar Menor is in intensive care,” she says. “Maybe it won’t go back to the same as it was when I was younger, but at least it will have a life of dignity.”

Editor's P/S:

The granting of legal rights to Mar Menor, Europe's largest saltwater lagoon, is a groundbreaking step in environmental protection. This innovative approach recognizes the intrinsic value of nature and empowers citizens to advocate for its well-being. Teresa Vicente's tireless efforts and the support of the local community have set a precedent for democratizing environmental protection and ensuring that future generations can enjoy the beauty and benefits of this unique ecosystem.

While the recovery of Mar Menor will take time, the legal framework provides hope for its restoration. By addressing the root causes of pollution and implementing natural solutions, we can work towards a future where the lagoon thrives once again. The example of Mar Menor serves as a reminder that collective action and innovative thinking can make a real difference in safeguarding our planet and the species that depend on it.