A report by Ecologistas en Acción has revealed serious environmental issues at 48 beaches in Spain, including pollution, overtourism, and improper coastal development. The focus is on locations in the Canary Islands, with calls for better beach management and sustainable tourism practices.
Ecologistas en Acción, a Spanish environmental group, has released its annual report designating 48 ‘black flag’ beaches across Spain due to serious environmental concerns such as pollution, overtourism, and improper coastal development. The report, published on June 12, 2024, highlighted the issues of sewage spills, marine litter, and excessive urban expansion impacting various beaches, with a particular emphasis on those in the Canary Islands.
Key locations with ‘black flag’ status include Playa Blanca in Lanzarote, known for recent sewage spills, and Tenerife’s La Tejita Beach and Puertito de Armeñime, criticized for failing to comply with environmental laws. Other affected areas encompass popular tourist destinations like Malaga, Barcelona, Alicante, and the Balearic Islands.
The report claims that the ecological footprint of the Canary Islands is equivalent to a territory 27 times its size, mainly due to rapid urbanization and tourism-driven developments. Ecologistas en Acción stressed the need for improved beach management and sustainable tourism practices to mitigate these environmental threats.
