The Environmental NGOs in Action gave to recently see the complete list of the 48 Spanish beaches that have received ‘black flags’ this year 2024. These flags are awarded to those that suffer of pollution and the poor environmental management.
Since 2005the organization has carried out annual inspections throughout the more than 8,000 kilometers of Spanish coast. These reviews the most significant cases stand out although they warn that “They are not the only ones, but the most serious and visible”. Claudia Asensi, spokesperson for the organization, has indicated that «there is a lot to improve».
Galicia.- In Pontevedra, the Cangas City Council and the Cangas Management UTE receive the black flag due to residual discharges into the Ría de Aldán. In A Coruña, Sogarisa and the Official Mining Chamber of Galicia receive a black flag. In Lugo, the Xunta does it for its management of the dumping of plastic pellets and the Alcoa red sludge pond.
Catalonia.- The three chimneys of Sant Adrià del Besós carry a black flag in Barcelona, due to pollution, and the artificialization of the Maresme coast. In Tarragona, a black flag appears for the Costa Daurada pellet dump and for the coastal road project as it passes through the Savinosa preventory. In Girona, the NGO denounces spills on the Costa Brava.
Region of Murcia. The Bay of Portmán and Sierra Minera take the black flag for the pollution they continue to suffer. The Mar Menor and drainage basin have also been given a black flag due to the poor management of said space.
Valencian Community. In Alicante, the Amerador ravine and beach and the Bay of Alicante (includes four beaches). In Valencia, the coastal area included in the Natura 2000 Network. The black flag is also awarded to the massive sand filling in the Albufera natural park. In Castellón, the coastline of the Grao-camino Serratella and the Playa de l’Estany-Capicorb are included.
Canary Islands.– The focus is on the beaches of the Hotel La Tejita and the Hotel Cuna del Alma due to the spills. In the province of Las Palmas, Playa Blanca, due to pollution, and the Dunas de Corralejo natural park.
Balearics.- Ibiza receives two black flags for pollution, Talamanca beach, and for poor management, Cala Xarraca.
Asturias.– The flag is awarded to the sanitation deficiencies on the eastern coast, “aggravated by the large number of tourists” and to the project for a new dock in the port of Figueres.
Andalusia.– Several black flags appear. The first, in the Huelva estuary, due to pollution, and Portil, due to poor management. In Cádiz, the Trafalgar coast, due to pollution and the accumulation of urban projects in Tarifa. In Malaga, the massive dumping of packaging on the night of San Juan and the controversial concessions to beach kiosks. Granada beach also receives a black flag.
Black Flag List Broken Down
Of the 48 black flags awarded this year:
– 16 have been granted for discharges and “serious” deficiencies in the sanitation and purification systems.
– 15 due to excessive urbanization, sometimes invading the maritime-terrestrial public domain.
– 6 due to chemical, light and/or acoustic pollution.
– 4 due to effects on biodiversity
– 3 due to accumulation of marine litter.
– 3 for dredging and port expansions without justification.
– 1 for damage to historical and cultural heritage within the maritime-terrestrial public domain.
What beaches repeat black flags?
Among the locations that they repeat with ‘black flag’ With respect to 2023 there is the Huelva estuary. Regarding this, López has regretted that “The most polluted sea in the world is the Sea of Huelva due to all the heavy mining”.
Furthermore, he highlighted that the industry discharges, especially the heavy one, along with the pressure of “tourist massification” and urbanization are the main threats to the Spanish coast.
The Mar Menor, a focus of important concern for environmentalists
He Mar Menor, in Murcia, also reappears on the list due to to the serious impacts of the economic activitiess. Also to the lack of institutional control that have mistreated the ecosystem for decades.
Other places like TArifa (Cádiz), La Savinosa (Tarragona), the bay of La Concha beach (San Sebastián) and the Alcoa red sludge pond in Lugo They have also received again the ‘black flag’.
Regarding dog beachesLópez has explained that «the problem is not the dogs. The thing is that the beach that is declared canine is far awayin protected areas where there are birds whose habitat HE is affected by presence of many dogs. He the problem is not the dog beach but your location without a prior environmental impact assessment».
Image source: Canva image bank
