In the month of November 2002 took place the well-known accident of the Prestige tanker, which was one of the worst environmental tragedies in the history of Spain. The ship after the accident split in two, dumping thousands of tons of crude on the Galician coast.
The Institute of Marine Research of Vigo (CSIC) was responsible for making a selection between the proposals for mitigation received.
172 companies and institutions from around the world concurred with offers and proposals.
Only 5, plus the IIM institute itself, carried out meso-scale tests in supra-tidal rocks of the Island of Sálvora. The trial and its follow-up were controlled by CSIC.
Only two companies came to sell product, including the current Biopulcher, then with another company name