The proliferation of Rugulopteryx okamurae, known as Asian seaweed, has become one of the major environmental and management challenges currently facing the Costa del Sol coastline. In response, Nautilus Dragados is working on new solutions to prevent this seaweed from reaching the beaches and to facilitate its subsequent collection and management.
A proposal that Diario SUR recently picked up in its article “A net to catch Asian algae?”, which analyzes the pilot project being studied by the Association of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol to deal with the arrival of this invasive species to our coasts.
A solution that seeks to act before the algae reach the beach
As reported by Diario SUR, the Mancomunidad is holding talks with Nautilus Dragados to learn about our system for containing, concentrating and collecting algae, an alternative that proposes changing the traditional approach to action.
Currently, most efforts focus on removing seaweed once it has reached the sand. Nautilus Dragados’ proposal aims to go a step further: intercepting it before it reaches the coast, concentrating it in a controlled manner, and then proceeding with its extraction.
A pilot test on the Western Costa del Sol
Nautilus Dragados has already formally conveyed its intention to develop a pilot test on the Western Costa del Sol, one of the areas most affected by the proliferation of Rugulopteryx okamurae.
The aim will be to test the system’s effectiveness in the field and study how to adapt this technology to the specific characteristics of the Malaga coastline. The project is currently in the study phase, including the search for potential funding models and coordination with the various relevant authorities.
The initiative will also be passed on to the Andalusian Regional Government, through the Territorial Delegation of Sustainability and Environment, to further analyze its possible implementation.
Innovation to protect our coasts
The magnitude of the problem necessitates further exploration of new courses of action. The presence of Rugulopteryx okamurae generates significant volumes of biomass that must be removed, transported, and managed, also entailing increased costs for local authorities.
Faced with this scenario, at Nautilus Dragados we are committed to innovation, prevention and the development of solutions specifically designed to protect our coastline.
Our goal is not only to act when the problem is already on the beach, but to study systems that allow us to intervene beforehand, control the accumulation of algae and subsequently optimize its removal.
We thank Diario SUR for their interest in our project and for highlighting the need to continue working on innovative solutions for the management of invasive algae on the Malaga coast.
Read the full article from Diario SUR
You can consult the original article, published on August 18, 2026, on the Diario SUR website: “A net to catch Asian algae?”.