The popular beach destination faces issues with its coastline following a report from Ecologists in Action.
Spain remains the UK’s top holiday destination, with nearly 19 million Brits flying over in 2024, with no sign of slowing down. Many go for the heat, seemingly endless sun, and of course, the beaches.
However, 50 of the country’s famous beaches have been branded with black flags, marking them as unsuitable for swimming. One group is responsible for the ban, and it’s not because of choppy seas.
Environmental campaign group Ecologists in Action has given the beaches the title not due to hazards like rocks or riptides but raw sewage. Ongoing ecological issues have impacted Spain’s shorelines, as marine waste, pollution, and sewage discharges have left the beauty spots unsuitable.
The annual report was first submitted in June of 2024. Still, following a period of severe flooding over the country later in the year, we can expect the number of contaminated beaches to rise.
Last year, 48 beaches were awarded black flags, including those in popular destinations like Malaga and Costa del Sol, as well as locations on the Spanish islands of Ibiza, Tenerife, and Lanzarote.
A new report for 2025 has not yet been released, but can be expected closer to Summer.
Over 5,000 miles of Spanish coastline have been impacted, and while pollution from poor management is a persistent problem, another reason is perhaps more pressing for tourists and locals alike.
Of the 48 beaches, 15 faced ecological issues due to overdevelopment along the coast, including construction contamination and erosion.
Talamanca Beach, one of the most popular in Ibiza, features on the list after being highlighted for the catastrophic damage inflicted on underwater flora and fauna by boats anchoring illegally off the coast, as well as fumes and spills from their engines.
Some of the issues are related to tourism, such as the overdevelopment of more beachfront property and littering. Locals on the Canary Islands protested last year after being inundated with litter from visitors.
Ecologists in Action were keen to point out that the tourists weren’t solely to blame, as major sewage companies also contributed significantly to the damage.
The holiday destination is facing uncertain waters going ahead, with the following stretches of coast deemed dangerous to swim in:
Catalonia
- La Farella, Girona
- Various beaches on the Costa Brava, Girona
- Comarca del Maresme, Barcelona
- Sant Adrià del Besò, Barcelona
- Camino de Ronda, Tarragona
- Playa de la Pineda, Costa Dorada, Tarragona
Valencia
- Playa de L’Estany-Capicorb, Castellon
- Playa de Burriana, Castellon
- Beaches at the Parque Natural de l’Albufera, Valencia
- Puerto de Valencia, Valencia,
- Barranco y playa del Amerador, Alacant
- Playas de Cap l’horta, Albufera, Postiguet and San Gabriel, Alacant
Murcia
- Mar Menor
- Portman Bay and Sierra Minera
Andalucia
- Playa Quitapellejos-Palomares, Almeria
- Playa de ‘El Lancón’ en Carboneras, Almeria
- Playa de Castell de Ferro, Granada
- Playa Granada y Poniente, Granada
- Playas de Malaga, Malaga
- Coast of Malaga, Malaga
- Tarifa, Cadiz
- Costa de Trafalgar, Cadiz
- Huelva river, Huelva
- El Portil, Huelva
Galicia
- Aldán river, Concello de Cangas, Pontevedra
- Arousa river and Pontevedra river, Pontevedra
- Minera de Galicia, A Coruna
- Pereiro river and Ramisqueira river, A Coruna
- Alcoa pond, Lugo
- Galician coast, Lugo
Asturies and Cantabria
- Port of Figueres, Asturies
- Villaviciosa, Asturies
- Playa de Usgo, Cantabria
- San Román de la Llanilla, Cantabria
Basque Country
- Lamiako marsh area, Bizkaia
- Gernika and Murueta, Bizkaia
- Santa Clara Island, Gipuzkoa
- La Concha Island, Gipuzkoa
- Balearic Islands
- Cala Xarraca, Ibiza
- Playa de Talamanca, Ibiza
Melilla and Ceuta
- Port of Melilla
- Melilla Bay
- Monte Hacho
- Playa de Desnarigado
Canary Islands
- Playa Blanca, Las Palmas, Lanzarote
- Corralejo Dunes, Las Palmas, Fuerteventura
- La Tejita Beach (Granadilla), Puertito de Armeñime (Adeje), Tenerife
- Northwest coastline of Tenerife