The new Marine Species Recovery and Conservation Centre, located at the former passenger terminal of San Javier Airport, promises to enhance the protection of marine biodiversity in the Murcia region. It will feature a total of sixteen tanks encompassing eight hundred and fifty-four cubic metres, specifically dedicated to safeguarding the unique species of the Mar Menor. This initiative is part of a larger effort by the regional government to create a reference facility for the rehabilitation and conservation of marine and terrestrial fauna.

The project, already out to tender for three hundred and forty-five thousand five hundred and eight euros, aims to ensure that nine of the tanks focus solely on indigenous species, while others will monitor biodiversity along the Mediterranean coastline. To support these efforts, the centre will also include laboratories for veterinary care and the scientific monitoring of threatened species, complemented by outdoor semi-liberty zones to aid the gradual recovery of animals before their return to the wild.

Plans for the centre include educational areas open to the public to promote environmental awareness and the significance of conserving local biodiversity. The initiative seeks to repurpose an unused structure into a key asset for environmental protection, aligning with efforts to develop a more sustainable model in response to climate change and ecosystem pressures.

The technical project, which includes the project outline, basic project, execution project, and necessary installations, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. This will allow for construction to commence in the first quarter of next year. The new centre will comply with nearly zero energy consumption standards and will occupy an estimated four thousand five hundred and fifteen square metres.