The Costa del Sol is confronting a recurring problem with the proliferation of Asian seaweed along its coastline. Municipalities in the province of Málaga have been solely responsible for managing this situation for years, in the absence of a coordinated action plan from the Directorate General of the Coast and the Sea. This forces local councils to allocate substantial budget items for beach cleaning.
In 2025, the Costa del Sol Environmental Complex processed a total of 5,447 tons of seaweed originating from municipalities such as Casares, Estepona, Manilva, and Marbella. As of June 14th of the current year, these facilities, owned by the Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Occidental, had already received 3,427 tons of seaweed from Estepona, Manilva, Marbella, and Benalmádena.
The treatment process involves several stages. Each municipality is responsible for the initial collection on its shores. Subsequently, the seaweed is transported to collection points where it is left to settle and dehydrate in the sun, significantly reducing its weight and sand content. This dehydration explains the difference between the tons collected by the municipalities and those handled by Acosol at its facilities.
Once its weight is considerably reduced, the material is transferred to the Costa del Sol Environmental Complex in Casares. There, these plant remains are processed like any other waste. After treatment, the resulting material is used as compost and provided to the associated municipalities for fertilizing their green areas and gardens, thus completing a circular economy cycle.
The Popular Party of Málaga has urged the Directorate General of the Coast and the Sea to develop an action plan against these invasive species. The president of the PP in Mijas, Ana Mata, demanded an "urgent and immediate" response. Marbella councilor Diego López has also advocated for the central government to assume its responsibility, highlighting the negative impact on the environment, tourism, and fishing.
In parallel, the Costa del Sol welcomed a total of 14.65 million tourists in 2025, a 1.19% increase from the previous year, according to Turismo Costa del Sol. Tourism revenue reached 21,811.7 million euros, up 2.8%, solidifying the region as a key destination in Spain. Hotel profitability also rose, with a RevPAR of 108.2 euros. Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport recorded 13.3 million passengers, a 7.3% increase.
Air traffic is expected to remain strong. Between June 26th and July 5th, Málaga Airport will handle 70% of all operations in Andalusia, with a total of 6,140 flights scheduled.
