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last mo.

Ecologistas en Acción Flags 48 Spanish Coastal Sites for Mismanagement

Activists warn that a controversial Valencian coastal law fostering privatization also legitimizes premature Blue Flag awards, threatening to undermine cleanup efforts.

Foto de archivo de la playa de la Garrofera tras la dana.
Contaminación plástica en una playa.
Image

Overview

  • Ecologistas en Acción’s 2025 report assigns 48 “black flags” to sites afflicted by coastal urbanization, pollution, biodiversity loss, waste accumulation and poor waste management.
  • The group criticizes privatization maneuvers by wealthy individuals and state bodies, citing cases from the RIU Palace Tres Islas resort in Fuerteventura to private estates on Toralla island and Feijóo’s occupation of public beach space in Moaña.
  • Catalonia endures the highest development pressure with commercial projects encroaching on natural areas and plans like the TarraCO2 storage facility off Tarragona raising environmental and social risks.
  • Beaches in the Valencian Community struck by last autumn’s DANA storm received Blue Flag awards weeks ago, prompting censure for incomplete cleanup and absence of analytical testing on sands and seabeds.
  • The new Valencian Coastal Protection Law is denounced for facilitating the regularization of illegal occupations and deepening privatization of the public maritime-terrestrial domain.