A petition on Change.org has gathered over 30,000 signatures calling for a ban on jet skis in Mar Menor, except for safety and rescue operations. The petition reflects a debate that has gained intensity in recent months among residents, environmentalists and the maritime sector in the region, with opposing views on the impact of these vehicles on the Murcia lagoon and its swimmers.
The debate has divided different actors: Ecologistas en Acción, Asamblea Ciudadana Playa de La Isla de Mazarrón, SOS Mar Menor, Abrecemos el Mar Menor and the Nautical Association of Murcia have taken public positions on the issue in recent months. All parties agree on the need for greater supervision, but diverge over whether jet skis represent a real threat.
Ecologistas en Acción warns that the increase in recreational motorised vessels, including jet skis, is affecting coastal ecosystems. Pedro Luengo, a representative of the NGO, pointed out that in shallower waters "sediment resuspension can occur, making nutrients in the sediment available to microalgae, muddying the waters". He also noted that at high speeds they can "dislodge plants and algae and even animals attached to the bottom".
Residents have reported reckless behaviour by pilots navigating at high speed, putting other swimmers at risk and causing noise disturbances. SOS Mar Menor expressed that "the Gola de Marchamalo looks like a speedway", referring to an area of the lagoon with half a metre of water in many places.
The Nautical Association of Murcia rejects holding all users responsible for environmental damage "that no one has scientifically proven". Its president, José Miguel Martínez, advocates for greater supervision and sanctions for those who breach regulations, but refuses to let "the innocent pay for the guilty".
An analysis by the newspaper La Verdad revealed that between 1 January and 26 August, authorities recorded 221 reports of maritime violations in Mar Menor, of which 102 (46.1%) involved jet ski users. Jet ski violations exceeded those related to recreational vessels (99) and those involving fishing or port services, according to the report.
The jet ski sector has shown expansion in the region. The National Association of Nautical Companies reported that between January and July, registrations of recreational vessels, including jet skis, grew by 6.8% compared to 2025, with Murcia standing out as the fifth province with the most registrations.
Some regions of Spain have already tightened regulation or banned jet skis in certain areas. The Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park has prohibited these vessels, and the Change.org campaign suggests that Mar Menor should follow that example. Cantabria has also recently updated its legal framework on the matter.
