Ecologists in Action presents its black flags

Ecologists in Action has released its annual “Black Flags” report, which exposes the most serious examples of pollution and environmental mismanagement along Spain’s coasts. This year, like in previous years, 48 Black Flags were presented, with two for each province and/or autonomous city. The province of Alicante awarded two Black Flags to its three municipalities: Benidorm, Torrevieja, and Orihuela.

According to the organisation, this year’s edition focused on the new Coastal Protection and Planning Act, which “opens the door to speculation and allows for the occupation of public maritime and terrestrial spaces as well as pollution due to urban development pressure and overexploitation by tourists.” Furthermore, in a year marked by flooding, the study placed “emphasis on construction on floodplains.”

The Valencian Community has awarded six black flags, two to each province. The flags are notable for their impact on the Coastal Protection and Planning Act, which allows for speculation by allowing the occupation of public maritime and terrestrial space or construction within 100 metres of the coast, as well as pollution caused by urban development pressure and tourism overexploitation.

They ended up on Levante beach in Benidorm due to pollution and Cala Mosca and Ferris coves in Orihuela and Torrevieja due to inadequate management. In the case of the former, Ecologists in Action says that “untreated sewage discharge has affected this beach and the coast of the Serra Gelada Natural Park”. Lack of infrastructure investment, as well as pressure from tourists and urban development, has forced the administration to justify these ‘managed’ releases in the Natural Park and neighbouring beaches in order to keep wastewater treatment plants operational.”

In February 2024, work to repair Benidorm’s wastewater pumping stations on Avenida del Mediterráneo and Ametlla de Mar resulted in the flow of untreated water into the Serra Gelada.

Although the situation was remedied within hours, it raised concerns and drew criticism from environmentalists and other stakeholders. Thus, this year, the Consell (Spanish) has again authorised a new regulated dumping site to “finish off” these activities with the goal of generating as little waste as possible.

The other black flag has gone to Cala Mosca and Cala Ferris, located in Orihuela and Torrevieja, respectively. “Despite strong urban development pressure, they have been protected from cement and concrete to date thanks to a livestock trail in Cala Ferris and the sensitive vegetation and legislation of PATIVEL in Cala Mosca.”

The black flags in Valencia are for the beaches in the city’s south, which correspond to the Albufera Natural Park and the Law on the Protection and Planning of the Coast, respectively, due to pollution and inadequate management. In Castellón, the black flags are designated for the beach south of the capital’s port in Grao de Castellón due to pollution, and for Mar Xica beach in Benicarló due to inadequate management.