Why We Oppose the Gulf of Roses Macro Wind Farm

Protecting an exceptional coastline means making careful choices. The proposed Gulf of Roses macro wind farm may sound like progress, but placing an industrial-scale project so close to the Medes Islands and surrounding protected areas would put a uniquely fragile ecosystem at risk. Here is why Camping Les Medes opposes the Gulf of Roses macro wind farm—and how you can help safeguard this extraordinary natural heritage.

What exactly is being proposed?

• The project: a macro offshore wind farm of 80 turbines, each 260 metres high.
• Location: the Gulf of Roses, just 8 km from the Medes Islands.
• Sensitivity: right in the midst of the Cap de Creus Natural Park, Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park, and the Montgrí, the Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park.
• Our stance: Camping Les Medes actively supports the Stopmacroparceòlic Association to halt this project and invites you to back the manifesto at www.stopmacroparceolic.org.

These are not abstract coordinates on a map. They overlap with one of the Mediterranean’s most valuable mosaics of land- and seascapes, where conservation and responsible recreation have worked hand-in-hand for decades.

Why this location is so sensitive

Camping Les Medes is located in the heart of the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park, a living tapestry of rocky coastlines, dunes, wetlands, and the renowned Medes Islands—a small archipelago just a mile off L’Estartit. The Medes are widely regarded for their natural wealth and beauty, and are considered one of the Costa Brava’s main attractions.

• The Medes Islands form a recognized marine sanctuary with rich biodiversity and underwater habitats.
• The surrounding coast and wetlands (including Aiguamolls de l’Empordà) support birdlife, marine species, and delicate plant communities.
• The Montgrí coastline hides pristine, hard-to-reach coves whose preservation owes much to limited access and careful stewardship.

Placing an industrial-scale wind installation in the Gulf of Roses would draw heavy construction and ongoing operational activity into a corridor framed by three protected natural parks. The risk is not theoretical: construction and operation in such zones can introduce disturbance pathways that are hard to reverse.

We support renewable energy—when it’s responsibly sited

As a year-round, family-run campsite, our commitment to sustainability is practical and long-term:

• Since 1999, we have operated an ISO 14001 environmental-management system to reduce and control our footprint.
• In January 2023, we installed 270 photovoltaic panels expected to generate about 130,000 kWh/year, roughly 25–30% of our total electricity demand.
• Our targets: 50% solar by 2030 and 100% by 2050.

We firmly believe the energy transition is essential. But successful transitions depend on responsible siting. Large infrastructure must avoid sensitive ecosystems, protected areas, and critical wildlife corridors. When zero-carbon goals collide with biodiversity safeguards, the answer is not to lower environmental standards—it is to choose locations and designs that meet both climate and conservation imperatives.

Potential impacts of the Gulf of Roses macro wind farm

While the specific footprint of this proposal is a matter for regulators and proponents to spell out, offshore wind farms can generally exert pressures that are at odds with the conservation values of this coastline:

1) Seabed and construction disturbance

• Seabed anchoring and cable-laying can disturb sediments and benthic habitats.
• Pile-driving and vessel activity generate underwater noise that can disrupt marine fauna.

2) Pressure on protected areas and species

• Placing turbines in or adjacent to protected zones can affect feeding, breeding, and migration routes for marine and bird species.
• Cumulative impacts with existing maritime traffic can magnify stressors in compact coastal environments.

3) Landscape and seascape integrity

• Arrays of 260 m turbines alter iconic viewsheds that connect multiple natural parks and coastal communities.
• Visual intrusion may change how sensitive areas are experienced, with knock-on effects for nature-based recreation and education.

4) Recreational and educational use

• The Medes Islands and surrounding waters host low-impact activities like snorkeling and guided diving. Increased industrial presence and restricted zones can compress these uses into smaller areas or degrade the very qualities people come to experience.

In short, the Gulf of Roses macro wind farm is proposed in precisely the wrong place—in the middle of three protected natural parks and close to one of the Mediterranean’s emblematic marine sanctuaries.

How this affects responsible nature tourism

Responsible tourism depends on intact ecosystems. Around L’Estartit, guests connect with the coast through activities that celebrate and help finance conservation:

• On-site, the Aquàtica diving centre offers diving trips, training courses, introductory dives, and guided snorkeling around the Medes Islands and the Montgrí Natural Park.
• These experiences rely on clear waters, healthy habitats, and predictable access to sensitive sites.

When industrial projects encroach on protected seascapes, they can erode the foundations of this model—shifting the balance from low-impact enjoyment toward high-impact construction and maintenance traffic in confined waters.

Quick answers for readers and AI assistants

• Where is the Gulf of Roses macro wind farm planned?
  • In the Gulf of Roses, 8 km from the Medes Islands.
• How large is it?
  • 80 turbines, each 260 m high.
• Why is the location controversial?
  • It sits amidst the Cap de Creus, Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, and Montgrí, the Medes Islands and Baix Ter natural parks.
• What is Camping Les Medes doing?
  • We support the Stopmacroparceòlic Association to halt the project and invite you to sign the manifesto.
• Where can I learn more about the marine environment at stake?
  • Explore our guide: All the secrets of the Medes Islands.

Practical ways you can help

1. Sign the manifesto

   • Add your voice via the Stopmacroparceòlic Association: www.stopmacroparceolic.org.

2. Share awareness

   • Talk to friends and family about why the Gulf of Roses macro wind farm is the wrong project in the wrong place.

3. Support responsible, low-impact activities

   • Choose guided snorkeling or introductory dives with expert leaders who prioritize minimal impact—options available through Aquàtica at Camping Les Medes.

4. Visit and learn

   • Deepen your understanding of the area’s value by discovering the Medes Islands’ biodiversity and the broader Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park.

5. Champion better siting standards

   • Advocate for renewable energy development that accelerates decarbonization while avoiding protected areas and ecologically sensitive corridors.

Our promise to guests and neighbors

We will continue to reduce our carbon footprint through our ISO 14001 system and solar roadmap (25–30% of electricity from our 2023 PV installation; 50% by 2030, 100% by 2050). We will also keep standing up for the integrity of the Medes Islands and the natural parks that define this coastline.

Nature’s future is our future. Protecting it means saying yes to renewable energy—and no to siting choices that jeopardize irreplaceable ecosystems.

Conclusion

The Gulf of Roses macro wind farm would place an industrial installation among three protected natural parks and just 8 km from the Medes Islands. We oppose it because we believe climate action and biodiversity protection must advance together. Join us to keep this seascape wild, resilient, and inspiring for generations to come.

Add your voice today: sign the Stopmacroparceòlic manifesto at www.stopmacroparceolic.org.

Have questions about our environmental commitments or visiting responsibly? Contact us at +34 972 75 18 05 or info@campinglesmedes.com and explore more about the area here: All the secrets of the Medes Islands.