Canaries Receive Four ‘Black Flags’ for Environmental Issues
Ecologists in Action has awarded four ‘Black Flags’ to areas in the Canary Islands, recognising serious environmental degradation and poor coastal management. The locations highlighted are Cuna del Alma in Adeje, Las Teresitas beach, the Telde cages, and tourism cruises in Arrecife.
Each year, the “Banderas Negras” report identifies critical pollution and mismanagement issues along Spain’s coastline. This year, the Canary Islands received flags for the following reasons:
-
Cuna del Alma: This luxury development in Adeje continues despite lacking environmental impact assessment and ongoing legal issues, threatening local protected species and one of the last undeveloped coastlines in the region.
-
Las Teresitas: This beach suffers from significant neglect, with illegal waste disposal, public space privatisation, and overall poor management, impacting both the area’s natural and cultural heritage.
-
Telde: The use of industrial aquaculture cages has led to repeated pollution incidents, including a major fish die-off in 2025, affecting several beaches and showing systemic issues within the production model.
-
Arrecife: The rise in cruise tourism poses risks with anticipated visitor numbers expected to increase from 150,000 in 2021 to 700,000 by 2026. This surge is leading to overcrowding and strains on local infrastructure.
The Black Flag does not indicate that swimming is prohibited; instead, it serves as a public denunciation of severe environmental issues while some beaches may still meet sanitary conditions for swimming.
In total, 48 locations across Spain have been flagged this year, reflecting the most common threats to the coastline, including sewage discharges, biodiversity loss, and urban encroachment.
