Integrated Diagnosis: the 10 priority challenges for the future of Santander Bay

The report includes ten major challenges related to environmental conservation, resource management and the management of activities in Santander Bay

The Environmental Hydraulics Institute of the Universidad de Cantabria (IHCantabria) has elaborated the Integrated Diagnosis of the Bay of Santandera report that includes 10 key challenges related to the conservation of the estuary and its environment and the promotion of a balanced and sustainable management of its natural, social and economic resources.

This document is part of the Plan Bahía project and marks a milestone in the first phase of the initiative. Challenges identified include beach erosion and loss of draft in the inner Bay, the need to manage aquatic activities, define a common and sustainable tourism model for the Bay, and strengthen institutional collaboration for the management of the estuary.

The Integrated Diagnosis combines the scientific analysis of the socioeconomic, environmental and morphodynamic evolution of the estuary, as well as the regulations applicable in the Bay, and the contributions collected through a public participation process. public participation processIn this process, groups and organizations with interests in the Bay and the general public have contributed their knowledge and assessments through various participatory activities.

The 10 challenges identified

The study includes ten major challenges related to environmental conservation, resource management and the planning of activities in the Bay of Santander. These major issues must be addressed together in order to move towards a sustainable management model for the estuary.

The Diagnosis also analyzes phenomena that could significantly alter the dynamics of the Bay, such as the continued lengthening of El Puntal and even its potential rupture. This situation would imply relevant changes in the circulation of inland currents and in the morphodynamics of the estuary. In addition, the recovery of estuarine areas is proposed through the removal of historical landfills, with the aim of favoring biodiversity and improving water circulation.

• Erosion of beaches and lengthening of El Puntal

The retreat of the beaches of Somo and Loredo, together with the accumulation of sand in El Puntal, are modifying the coastline. These changes affect the protection against storms, alter the recreational uses of the beaches and modify the dynamics of the Bay. The evolution of these processes requires constant monitoring and evaluation of possible management measures to preserve both the ecosystems and the socioeconomic uses linked to these areas.

• Loss of draft in the interior of the Bay

The increase of sediments in the inland channels has reduced the depth of the Bay, making it difficult for vessels to navigate and affecting shellfish activity. This situation limits both recreational and commercial use of the inland waters, and raises the need to evaluate the actions necessary to maintain the depths and ensure the functionality of the port and shellfish areas.

• Historical occupation of intertidal surfaces

The Bay environment has experienced the loss of intertidal zones due to landfilling in the past for urban, agricultural and industrial uses. This occupation has reduced the natural capacity of these areas for environmental regulation and biodiversity. The Diagnosis proposes the need to study options to recover part of these spaces, favoring ecological connectivity and improving the environmental functionality of the estuary.

• Adaptation to climate change

The effects of climate change in the Bay are already observable through rising sea levels, increased temperatures and changes in coastal ecosystems. This situation makes it necessary to develop adaptation strategies that reduce the vulnerability of the territory, incorporate nature-based solutions and make it possible to anticipate impacts on the population, infrastructure and natural spaces.

• Overloading of the sanitation system

The current sanitation system has limitations to adequately manage stormwater and stream inflows during heavy rainfall events. This overload causes uncontrolled discharges and affects the quality of the estuary waters. The diagnosis suggests the need to review the capacity of the infrastructures and evaluate new solutions to improve the efficiency of the system.

• Management of aquatic activities

The growing practice of recreational and sporting activities in the Bay has generated the need to regulate the use of the aquatic space. The objective is to guarantee the safety of users, minimize environmental impacts on coastal habitats and avoid conflicts between different activities. This regulation will contribute to a safer, more orderly and sustainable use of aquatic spaces.

• Integrated vision of the tourism model

The growth of tourism in the Bay area requires a common strategy to plan this activity in a balanced way. It is necessary to promote a sustainable tourism model that reduces the seasonal concentration of visitors, minimizes environmental impacts and improves coexistence between tourists and residents.

• Enhancement of social and natural heritage

The environment of the Bay has an important natural, cultural and historical heritage, linked to traditional activities such as fishing and navigation. Its conservation and enhancement contribute to the knowledge and recognition of these resources by the local population and visitors, also facilitating their use as an engine of socioeconomic development.

• Integral development of planning instruments

The diagnosis highlights the need for more effective planning instruments that integrate landscape conservation, adaptation to climate change and sustainable land management. It also proposes the creation of guides and monitoring systems to facilitate the practical application of the measures adopted.

• Inter-agency collaboration for integrated management

The diversity of competencies in the Bay environment makes it necessary to create mechanisms for collaboration between public administrations and other stakeholders, as is the example of the Bay’s General Action Protocol. Coordination will facilitate the implementation of joint solutions and the improvement of the management of the natural, social and economic resources of the estuary.

Final Objective: Integrated Management Plan for the Bay of Santander

The project is in its final phase, focused on the drafting of the Integrated Management Plan for the Bay of Santander. During this stage, contributions are being sought from institutions, social and economic agents to define the most appropriate solutions to address the ten challenges identified. The objective is to design a management strategy that will facilitate the implementation of the proposed measures by the responsible entities.

Plan Bahia, a research project

Plan Bahía’ is a research project coordinated by the Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of the University of Cantabria(IHCantabria) and funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Government of Cantabria through the Marine Sciences Program. Its objective is to draft the Integrated Management Plan for the Bay of Santander, which will establish the collaboration mechanisms and the measures to be implemented so that the institutions that make up the Bay Committee can address the future actions to be developed within the framework of an Integrated Plan for the Management of the Bay.

The Integrated Management Plan for the Bay of Santander will be designed as a dynamic tool, capable of evolving and adapting to the changes that occur from the environmental, morphodynamic, economic and social point of view, to offer the best scientific-technical support to the administrations that are responsible for the management of the estuary, so that they can study and, if necessary, address the implementation of the different measures included in the ‘Bay Plan’.

Evidence of interaction in the participatory workshops held in the framework of the Plan Bahía project, which is part of the Marine Science Program of IHCantabria