• In 2019, Black Flags: the 48 most degraded points of the Spanish coasts
  • In 2018, these are the most polluted beaches in Spain

Behind the blue flags , which reward the best management and environmental models on the coasts of different countries, come the black flags, an annual report prepared by Ecologistas en Acción and which, as its name indicates, aims to be the dark reverse of the previous distinction.

The list drawn up by the environmental organization this year denounces the 48 worst silver and coastal areas in Spain. The discharge of water and poor purification are among the main problems identified in these enclaves. Two have been selected for each coastal province.

The latest edition of the report also reviews the last six years , since the current classification system for awarding black flags was implemented.

"Despite the fact that only two examples are collected, unfortunately the list in each province is not without more affections that could be mentioned throughout these pages," they point out from Ecologistas en Acción. The organization also pulls the ears of some of the recurring enclaves.

"As usual, we find some recurring flags that obtained this precious award -Ecologistas en Acción points out with irony- in 2019. Some examples: Peñón and la Guardia beach (Salobreña, Granada), due to the urban impact; the Gijón sanitation system (Asturias), due to the lack of a treatment plant in the eastern part of the city, the Fonsalía port project (Sta. Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands), due to the threat of its construction in a ZEC area; the alumina from Alcoa (Lugo) and Ence (Pontevedra), habitual these six years, as major responsible for industrial pollution, or the Mar Menor (Murcia), whose situation continues to worsen over time. "

This year also marks the 15th anniversary of the first Black Flags report . For this reason, Ecologists has included an extra section on the situation of the last six years, because the previous methodology was different. Since 2015 it has awarded 284 black flags .

The problems get worse

As in 2018 and 2019, the biggest problem on the Spanish coast is centered on the combination of water discharges and its poor purification , although with an aggravating factor, since 2020 is the year that has received the largest number of complaints on discharges and purification. of these past six years.

Invasive species, erosion on sandy beaches, or "unjustified" port expansion projects are also circumstances that have been taken into account when awarding black flags.

Ecologists in Action insists in its report on the threat that storms such as Gloria's pose to many beaches . "We must reflect on whether the response to these storms will continue to imply a huge amount of money to restore damaged infrastructure or whether we should propose a new management model that is integrated with the natural environment ," the document concludes.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • science
  • Science and health

Analysis of ice samples A large volcanic eruption in Alaska in 43 BC cooled ancient Rome.

ScienceAnnounced possible detection of solar axions, a new particle never seen before

Pollution 94% of Spaniards breathed contaminated air in 2019

See links of interest

  • News
  • Translator
  • Programming
  • Calendar
  • Horoscope
  • Classification
  • League calendar
  • Films
  • Cut notes
  • Themes
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Crystal Palace - Burnley
  • Getafe - Real Sociedad