Last June, Ecologistas en Acción ‘black flags’ (as opposed to blue) 48 beaches from all over Spain characterized by some kind of environmental influence. All these “separations” have affected the overcrowding, urbanization or pollution of these areas, as well as the destruction of their biodiversity. However, the presence of a dog beach in Vigo (Galicia) stood out in this list. Why did conservationists give this negative bounty to a dog beach?
In a statement, the organization underlines that “there has been a proliferation of dog beaches designated without a prior environmental impact assessment”. Therefore, they approve of the black flag being awarded to Vigo City Council. dog beach A Calzoa beach“Without anticipating the serious environmental impact created.”
“Walking with dogs “Traversing through natural environments has become a very popular activity around the world, and it raises a range of environmental issues and challenges that need to be addressed responsibly by administrations and society.”
Numerous scientific studies show that high impact on coastal fauna of walking with dogs, especially for birds, because for many it is the private habitat for feeding, resting and breeding. The adverse effects of this activity were quantified well above the rest of the disturbance types analysed.
“It’s not about demonizing any animal or the people who accompany them, it’s about understanding the interaction that occurs between them: the birds perceive the dog as a predator and the dog perceives them as prey. When we let a dog chase birds, even if they don’t catch them, we put them under serious stress, preventing or making it difficult for them to find food, depriving them of rest and forcing them to expend high energy. the expense of having to flee”, add.
Dog beaches, a thriving venture
In addition, dog owners “not only have to say this happens once with their dogs, but also happens regularly with most dogs visiting the beach all day and every day.”
The designation of dog beaches is a rapidly developing initiative by Spanish coastal town councils, where often “environmental criteria are not and are not taken into account”. chose beaches considered to have less tourist valueparadoxically it tends to overlap with: have higher ecological value. We think it should be the other way around, from Ecoologists in Action”.
In fact, there are instances in our area where the definition of dog beaches is reversed, for example Guadalhorce (Málaga), the mouth of the Banyeretes (Barcelona) or Ponzos (Ferrol) river in Sant Polas this use is incompatible with the protection of the ecosystem.
That’s why Ecologists in Action calls for “more complex analyzes by public administrations” and “scientific-backed studies” when choosing recreational areas for people with their pets in the natural environment.
Other black flags and some glimmer of hope
This year’s black flags, among other aspects of the Spanish coastline, extension of the concession to the ENCE pulp mill on the Pontevedra estuary.
“After 75 years on shore and exhausting the maximum number of years prescribed by law, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the pulp mill, despite a previous judgment by the National Court that upheld the expiration of the concession.”
Another black flag Illegal occupation by Petronor of public coastal land at the mouth of Barbadun (Bizkaia) “thanks to the prosecution’s disinterest in restoring legality and under the protection of the competent administrations that have not completed the execution of judicial sentences”.
However, Ecologas en Acción admits: “Not all governments are deaf ears. before repression and popular mobilization”.
Three examples of this are the future construction of the new treatment plant in Barbate (Cádiz); Repair of the discharge plus work on the fine-tuning of tertiary treatment in Roquetas de Mar (Almería), cleaning of Hípica beach in Melilla and expansion of the treatment plant to include tertiary treatment and make use of recovered water; or political, administrative and judicial initiatives encouraged by the social repression carried out in Mar Menor (Murcia).
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Contact address of the environment department: [email protected]