‘This used to be paradise’: How intensive farming is destroying Europeans’ favourite swimming spots

Brittany's Jean Hascoet laments the loss of a pristine beach due to pollution, caused by thousands of pigs near her town. Across France and Spain, beaches suffer from toxic algal blooms, primarily driven by chemical leaching, sewage, fertilizers, and manure from factory farms. Warmer seas amplified by climate change exacerbate algae growth, disrupting ecosystems and causing health issues like nausea and rashes in humans.

DeSmog visited one of Europe's worst impacted spots, Spain's Mar Menor lagoon. Fishers, swimmers, and business owners, who depend on healthy waters, share their concerns. The lagoon, Europe's largest saltwater lagoon, faces severe algae growth due to agricultural runoff. Despite being recognized as a legal person, the lagoon remains under stress from nutrient-rich manure and slurry from intensive farming. Agricultural practices are believed to account for around 85% of the nutrients entering the lagoon.

In Murcia, Pedro Luengo, a biologist and spokesperson for Ecologistas en Acción, states that the area is a "sacrificial zone" where farmland cannot accommodate the excess nutrients. Locals, such as fisherman Rubén Albaladejo, report declining catches due to the algae. Meanwhile, rising water temperatures hinder the reproductive ability of fish species.

In Northern Ireland, Lough Neagh, the UK's largest lake, also suffers from blue-green algae blooms, negatively impacting fishing. Declan Coney, a fisher, notes that this year has been the worst for fishing since the 2000s. The lake's algal blooms are caused by decades of nutrient pollution, including livestock waste, which has increased due to government expansion plans. Regulations are in place to improve water quality, but more on-farm support and oversight are needed.