Ecologists in Action named 48 beaches, many of which are in popular holiday hotspots, as having low water quality due to a raft of factors, including chemical pollution and sewage
Almost 50 famous beaches in Spain have been given unwanted black flags – rendering them unsuitable for swimming.
These beaches were given this unfortunate title by the new environmental campaign group Ecologists in Action due to ongoing and untreated ecological issues such as chemical pollution, marine waste, overdevelopment, and sewage discharges. In June last year, the annual report saw 48 beaches awarded black flags, including those in popular destinations such as Malaga and Costa del Sol, and locations on the Spanish islands of Ibiza, Tenerife, and Lanzarote. A new report for 2025 has not yet been issued.
Out of the 48 listed beaches, 15 faced issues due to overdevelopment along the coast, while 16 were reported to have poor wastewater management, resulting in pollutants and contaminants not being effectively eliminated from the ocean. An incredible 5,000 mile span of Spain’s coastline was examined to reach such a verdict.
Talamanca Beach in Ibiza appeared on the list after being highlighted for the catastrophic damage inflicted on underwater plants by boats anchoring illegally off the coast. The report also mentioned the impact of a treatment plant discharging salty wastewater into the sea on the beach.
Additionally, El Amerador Beach in El Campello, just north of Alicante, also received a flag due to disease-causing faecal pollution attributed to a nearby poorly maintained pumping station. Meanwhile, the Canary Islands’ beaches have been inundated with litter from tourists, leading locals to protest last year. However, Ecologists in Action confirmed that it wasn’t solely the tourists to blame; major sewage companies also contributed significantly to the damage.
Here is the complete list of black flag beaches by region:
Catalonia
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La Farella, Girona
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Various beaches on the Costa Brava, Girona
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Comarca del Maresme, Barcelona
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Sant Adrià del Besò, Barcelona
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Camino de Ronda, Tarragona
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Playa de la Pineda, Costa Dorada, Tarragona
Valencia
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Playa de L’Estany-Capicorb, Castellon
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Playa de Burriana, Castellon
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Beaches at the Parque Natural de l’Albufera, Valencia
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Puerto de Valencia, Valencia,
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Barranco y playa del Amerador, Alacant
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Playas de Cap l’horta, Albufera, Postiguet and San Gabriel, Alacant
Murcia
Andalucia
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Playa Quitapellejos-Palomares, Almeria
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Playa de ‘El Lancón’ en Carboneras, Almeria
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Playa de Castell de Ferro, Granada
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Playa Granada y Poniente, Granada
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Playas de Malaga, Malaga
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Coast of Malaga, Malaga
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Tarifa, Cadiz
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Costa de Trafalgar, Cadiz
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Huelva river, Huelva
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El Portil, Huelva
Galicia
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Aldán river, Concello de Cangas, Pontevedra
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Arousa river and Pontevedra river, Pontevedra
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Minera de Galicia, A Coruna
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Pereiro river and Ramisqueira river, A Coruna
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Alcoa pond, Lugo
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Galician coast, Lugo
Asturies and Cantabria
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Port of Figueres, Asturies
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Villaviciosa, Asturies
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Playa de Usgo, Cantabria
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San Román de la Llanilla, Cantabria
Basque Country
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Lamiako marsh area, Bizkaia
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Gernika and Murueta, Bizkaia
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Santa Clara Island, Gipuzkoa
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La Concha Island, Gipuzkoa
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Balearic Islands
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Cala Xarraca, Ibiza
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Playa de Talamanca, Ibiza
Melilla and Ceuta
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Port of Melilla
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Melilla Bay
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Monte Hacho
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Playa de Desnarigado
Canary Islands
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Playa Blanca, Las Palmas, Lanzarote
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Corralejo Dunes, Las Palmas, Fuerteventura
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La Tejita Beach (Granadilla), Puertito de Armeñime (Adeje), Tenerife
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Northwest coastline of Tenerife
