The Olympic Port incorporates concrete blocks where fish and mollusks will live

The transformation being carried out in Port Olímpic to open it to the public will also promote learning about the biodiversity of the marine coast. The works to reinforce the breakwater against new storms, increasingly aggressive, will incorporate 2,000 concrete blocks that will serve to offer an attractive place for different species of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans to live, in addition to protecting themselves from the waves.

A good part of these blocks, which began to be placed this Friday, have been naturalized, making their texture rougher to imitate the surface and holes of natural rocky bottoms. These artificial reefs will favor the colonization of different organisms and their reproduction, with the aim of recovering populations of species typical of rocky coastal bottoms and sandy environments.

To raise public awareness about a very close maritime reality, a part of the breakwater will be accessible to people who want to dive. Cameras will also be installed to view the internal life of these blocks, as well as devices to measure parameters such as temperature or CO2 and analyze the state of the Barcelona coast.

The action is inspired by the Parc dels Esculls, installed in 2003 on the city's Levante coast. Over the years, it has become a place with characteristics similar to natural rocky bottoms, just as is intended for the breakwater. The Barcelona City Council has introduced this scientific aspect into a maritime work with the advice of the Barcelona Zoo, which has been working for some time to extend its influence beyond Ciutadella Park.

The works at Port Olímpic, with a budget of 10.6 million euros, will last eight months. The total investment for the rehabilitation of this breakwater is 17.6 million euros and also includes works such as the reform to create a new space to host corporations and startups dedicated to the blue economy, which will also be installed on the Mistral Dock, where there used to be nightlife venues. According to the first deputy mayor, Jaume Collboni, companies have already shown interest in locating in this new city hub, which is being designed together with Barcelona Activa.