Maximum concern in Cala Vedella and Cala Tarida due to the microalgae that dyes the beach green

While this phenomenon is not new, the intensity and duration of the current stain are unusual. High temperatures and stagnant water facilitate the reproduction of these microalgae, staining the coastline a dark green colour that many visitors are unaware of. «When you see the water this green, you think something is wrong. Even if they tell you it's not pollution, it puts you off going in,» says Julia, a tourist from Zaragoza who was expecting to enjoy the crystal-clear waters, but has encountered this surprise instead.

On the other hand, Miguel, a tourist from Seville, commented that ‘when he saw the water this green, the first thing we thought was that this is not normal’, adding that after asking at a beach bar they explained to him that it was algae, although ‘it is strange, we were looking for the transparent water of the island, so later we will go to another cove’.

The businesses in the area, which traditionally live off the influx of tourists, are seeing how their daily clientele is dropping. "This beach used to always be full at this time, now it looks like a different place. Tourists arrive, see the water and go to another cove," laments Moisés Machado, of the Cana Sofía restaurant and a lifelong resident. Moisés, who grew up in Cala Vedella, remembers that when he was a child this problem did not exist and that in previous years it was combated with pumps that circulated the water and prevented it from stagnating.

However, these pumps have not been working for months as they are awaiting reinstallation, which is dependent on a permit that has not yet arrived. «They tell us that they are waiting for a permit from the Town Hall, but the bureaucracy is taking too long. In the meantime, we are losing money and our quality of life,» she says, sounding frustrated. Other locals also complain about the lack of institutional support: «They only come to check if we move the hammocks a few centimetres, but nobody is addressing the water problem,» says a local worker.

Residents also feel that the information given to visitors is insufficient. Joan, a resident of Sant Josep, explains that "there are no signs or information for those who don't know about the problem, and that's why many think it's pollution and leave. This affects all of us who work here".

In this sense, the loss of the blue flag, which years ago flew over Cala Vedella, is a sign of the environmental and tourist deterioration suffered by these coves. It seems that Cala Vedella had recovered it this year, but there is no record of this recognition.

Meanwhile, Cala Vedella and Cala Tarida are losing part of their attraction in the middle of the high season. Shopkeepers and residents hope that the authorities will speed up the procedures and put an end to this situation which, they claim, affects not only the local economy but also the identity of these coves, which have always been a symbol of Ibiza.