Canary Islands Face Rare Environmental Crisis With Two Black Flags In Spain’s Scenic Paradise

Published on August 17, 2025

The Canary Islands, a celebrated tourer destination, are facing a increasing biology situation arsenic 2 of their beaches person been flagged pinch achromatic flags owed to terrible pollution. This alarming improvement highlights nan damaging effects of over-tourism, pinch millions of visitors flocking to nan islands each year. The overwhelming number of tourists, coupled pinch accrued vessel postulation and waste, has put immense unit connected nan island’s delicate ecosystems, prompting urgent calls for much sustainable tourism practices to protect these once-pristine coastal areas.

The Canary Islands stay a apical picnic spot for British travelers.

A Spanish land that has go a celebrated retreat for galore tourists, peculiarly British travelers, is now grappling pinch biology concerns, arsenic 2 of its beaches person achromatic emblem position owed to terrible contamination. This improvement has raised alarms among biology groups and section residents, highlighting nan ecological toll of ever-increasing tourer numbers.

La Graciosa, a tranquil land located conscionable 2 kilometers northbound of Lanzarote, is portion of nan Canary Islands. It has agelong been revered arsenic an unspoiled gem, attracting quality lovers and escapade seekers who task beyond nan crowded hotspots of Tenerife and Lanzarote. With its pristine landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and comparatively untouched coastline, La Graciosa was erstwhile viewed arsenic a refuge from wide tourism. However, nan island’s biology stableness is now nether threat.

Two of La Graciosa’s beaches, Playa de Caleta de Sebo and Playa de la Francesa, person some been marked pinch achromatic flags, a nickname fixed by nan biology statement Ecologistas en Acción. This group has been assessing Spain’s coastal areas for contamination since 2005, compiling an yearly study that flags nan astir polluted beaches crossed nan country. These 2 beaches, erstwhile serene and inviting, person been flagged for contamination, placing nan spotlight connected nan increasing ecological effect of unchecked tourism.

Ecologistas en Acción attributes nan contamination connected La Graciosa to nan island’s overwhelming influx of visitors. Despite having only 720 imperishable residents, nan land attracts astir 300,000 visitors each year. The formation successful Caleta de Sebo, nan island’s superior settlement, is peculiarly affected. The summation successful vessel traffic, including backstage vessels and ferries, on pinch nan discarded near by beachgoers and adjacent restaurants, has resulted successful nan beach’s deteriorating condition. The statement highlights that nan emergence successful nan number of boats and different activities is importantly contributing to nan beach’s contamination. “The increasing number of boats, waste, and activities are polluting nan beach,” nan statement stated successful its latest report.

Further down nan coast, Playa de la Francesa has besides faced akin issues. The formation has been plagued by contamination from tourer boats, which make noise, disrupt wildlife, and time off discarded behind, including excrement and toilet paper. This is not nan first clip Playa de la Francesa has received specified a designation. It was first fixed a achromatic emblem successful 2023, and it continues to suffer from nan aforesaid biology pressures. In addition, nan expanding fame of catamaran tours that dock astatine this formation has compounded nan problem. These excursions often clasp parties pinch large music, service meals, and prosecute visitors successful games, each of which time off discarded connected nan soil and successful nan water, further damaging nan environment.

The rumor has sparked vexation among section residents and biology activists, who reason that nan standard of tourism is unsustainable and detrimental to nan island’s delicate ecosystems. Protests person erupted successful various tourer destinations crossed Spain, arsenic locals sound their concerns complete nan effects of wide tourism. These demonstrations bespeak a increasing sentiment that Spain’s tourism manufacture is harming its earthy resources, pinch nan Canary Islands being 1 of nan astir affected regions.

Despite these concerns, nan allure of nan Canary Islands remains beardown for world tourists. Data from Spain’s National Institute of Statistics (INE) reveals that nan Canary Islands knowledgeable their highest-ever number of world visitors successful June 2025. In that period alone, nan region welcomed 7.84 cardinal world travelers, marking a 4% summation compared to nan aforesaid play successful nan erstwhile year. This surge successful tourism has led to a important emergence successful economical activity, pinch visitors spending €1.56 cardinal (£1.35 billion) during their visits. This spending represents an 8.5% summation from nan erstwhile year, underlining nan increasing request for nan land arsenic a premier picnic destination.

However, nan hostility betwixt economical benefits and biology costs is becoming much apparent. While nan influx of visitors brings important gross to nan region, it besides places an unsustainable load connected section resources and ecosystems. The business successful La Graciosa serves arsenic a cautionary communicative of really moreover nan astir idyllic destinations tin go overwhelmed by wide tourism, raising questions astir really nan manufacture tin equilibrium maturation pinch sustainability.

As nan Canary Islands proceed to pull millions of visitors each year, nan situation remains: really tin these beautiful islands sphere their earthy beauty and biodiversity while accommodating nan increasing request for travel? The business connected La Graciosa calls for a person introspection of nan biology impacts of tourism and nan request for much sustainable practices to protect these cherished destinations for early generations.