Overview of Black Flags on the Spanish Coastline and Their Meaning
Black Flags, unlike the Blue Flags that recognize attractive and sustainable beaches, are a warning sign of coastal areas that are seriously threatened or degraded. Ecologists in Action reports that this year 48 Black Flags were awarded after surveying about 8,000 kilometers of coastline and compiling findings into a 200 page document.
The main causes cited for this year include poor wastewater treatment that pollutes the sea, urban overcrowding, litter, dredging or port expansions, coastal erosion, and impacts on biodiversity.
An example of the concerns is Nerja in Malaga, where the beach received a Black Flag because of its effect on marine biodiversity linked to sunscreen ingredients used by bathers. Ecologists in Action notes that these creams contain substances that significantly pollute water when washed off in bathing areas.
Endocrine disruptors and other substances found in chemical sunscreens can affect human health and also reach seas, rivers, or lakes when products are applied before swimming. The cumulative effect of many swimmers applying these products is difficult to visualize but substantial in impact.
In Murcia, attention is drawn to Mar Menor and Portman Bay. The Mar Menor faces ecosystem stress due to mismanagement and limited regulation across economic sectors, particularly agribusiness and intensive livestock farming, pushing the system toward its resilience limit.
The report from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography notes that in 2021 the lagoon ecosystem lost its capacity to self-regulate, meaning excessive nutrient input can have severe consequences. The document also notes that there remains a path to reclaim a large part of Mar Menor if strict, effective solutions are urgently adopted.
While some hopeful steps exist, Ecologists in Action emphasizes that much work remains to reduce pollution at its source and to implement measures that prevent ongoing damage through the coming months and into March of the following year.
In the cases of Portmán Bay and the Sierra Minera, Ecologists in Action describes a stark reflection of institutional and social failure. Decades of pollution through destructive mining have left Sierra Minera as a scarred landscape where toxic waste and environmental degradation threaten local livelihoods and future prospects.
Inside the Valencian Community, the Black Flag was given for the Colossus Project planned for Cala Lanuza and Cala Baeza due to a humid area and water quality concerns in Calpe. In Valencia, large macro festivals threaten dune ecosystems at Tavernes de la Valldigna beach. The Pinedo treatment plant also received the Black Flag in the city, and similar concerns were raised for Tirador beach in Vinaròs and Les Fonts beach in Alcalá de Xivert.
Further north in Galicia, the Metropolitan Municipality and the Foz Estuary in Nigrán received Black Flags for what environmentalists describe as ecologically irresponsible beach management. In Culleredo and Lousame, the dredging of sediments and mining sites drew condemnation as well.
In the Balearic Islands, two flags were awarded in Mallorca for Porto Colom due to water pollution and Port d’Alcúdia due to mismanagement of the coastline. In Asturias, the regasification plant near Xixón and the Avilés estuary were cited for environmental impacts near coastal areas.
Canary Islands saw flags raised for Charco de la Araña Beach in Tenerife and Waikiki Beach in Fuerteventura, alongside the activities of local aquaculture facilities. In Catalonia, Barcelona faced Black Flags for airport management and port pollution from cruise traffic, while Trabucador beach in Sant Carles de la Ràpita and Pineda d’en Gori near Palamós were also included in the list.
Despite the challenges, the report highlights progress as well. A new treatment plant in Barbate, repairs at Roquetas de Mar, and the expansion of the treatment capacity signal steps forward in some regions.
For the full list of flagged sites, the report is referenced but no external links are provided within this article. At the same time, ongoing environmental efforts and policy discussions continue to shape responses to coastal pollution and ecosystem resilience across regions.
Environment authorities remain focused on improving wastewater treatment, reducing nutrient loading, and curbing practices that damage sensitive coastal ecosystems. The Black Flag serves as a stark reminder that protecting coastlines requires coordinated action from local communities, industry, and government agencies alike.