Verification of the coastal water quality control and monitoring network for monitoring the state of coastal water bodies in the Region of Murcia, years 2022-2023

The purpose of the contract is to have a monitoring tool, which provides information on the evolution of water quality and aquatic ecosystems through the use of biological, hydromorphological and physicochemical indicators, so that an overall and complete picture of the state of all water bodies can be obtained coastal areas of the region of Murcia, as well as assessing long-term changes (due to natural changes or widespread anthropogenic activity).

The Network for Control and Monitoring of Coastal Water Bodies in the Region of Murcia has as its scope the 14 coastal water bodies characterized in Murcia. Of these 14 bodies of water, 11 are natural coastal bodies of water and 3 are heavily modified bodies of water.

A total of 64 sampling stations are established whose location, by means of UTM coordinates (ETRS89), and a description is detailed in Annex I of the Technical Specifications Specification. There are two separate sampling zones or areas, although the two integrated in the same Control and Monitoring Network. These are the Mar Menor and the Rest of the Coast of the Region of Murcia, which ranges from the coasts of San Pedro del Pinatar to the coasts of Águilas. This is due to the different geographical locations, as well as the different characteristics between the two areas. Therefore, there are 25 sampling stations in the Mar Menor, and 39 stations in the rest of the Litoral.