List of 'black flag' beaches in Spain as warning issued to tourists going on holiday

Tourists are being warned that 48 beaches in Spain have been designated as 'black flag' areas in a new report.

Spanish environmental group Ecologists in Action have released their annual list of the worst beaches to be affected by environmental problems. Inspections were carried out across 4,970 miles of Spain's coastline and 48 beaches were given black flag status in the 2024 report.

More than 15 black flags were the result of chemical spills, another 15 were down to coastal development and six were due to chemical, light and noise pollution. Purification problems, marine litter, port urbanisation and the dumping of plastic pellets were among the other environmental issues.

• Read More: Brits call for 'boycott' on summer holidays to Spain in anti-tourism row

• Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East with our free newsletter

Beaches in popular tourist hotspots like Barcelona, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands were among those highlighted in the report, reports Birmingham Live. The group criticised the Canary Island authorities for allowing the areas to accumulate an ecological footprint equivalent to a territory 27 times its size.

Beachfront hotels in Fuerteventura, Tenerife and La Palma were also called out for allegedly failing to 'comply with environmental laws' and 'ensure the restoration of the ecosystem'. A spokesperson for Ecologists in Action said: "Without a doubt, one of the biggest problems we face is the touristification and urbanization of our coastline - a problem that especially affects the Canary Islands, whose population is organizing, under the cry of 'The Canary Islands have a limit', to reject the numerous attacks and threats that endanger the conservation of these islands and the future of future generations."

Playa Blanca beach in Lanzarote received black flag status for a sewage spill that forced the beach's temporary closure in May, while private boats anchoring illegally at Talamanca Beach in Ibiza were said to be destroying to marine life.

List of Spain's 48 'black flag' beaches

1. La Farella, Girona, Catalonia

2. Various beaches on the Costa Brava, Girona, Catalonia

3. Comarca del Maresme, Barcelona, Catalonia

4. Sant Adrià del Besò, Barcelona, Catalonia

5. Camino de Ronda, Tarragona, Catalonia

6. Playa de la Pineda, Costa Dorada, Tarragona, Catalonia

7. Playa de L’Estany-Capicorb, Castellon, Valencia region

8. Playa de Burriana, Castellon, Valencia region

9. Beaches at the Parque Natural de l’Albufera, Valencia, Valencia region

10. Puerto de Valencia, Valencia, Valencia region

11. Barranco y playa del Amerador, Alacant, Valencia region

12. Playas de Cap l’horta, Albufera, Postiguet and San Gabriel, Alacant, Valencia region

13. Mar Menor, Murcia region

14. Portman Bay and Sierra Minera, Murcia region

15. Playa Quitapellejos-Palomares, Almeria, Andalucia

16. Playa de ‘El Lancón’ en Carboneras, Almeria, Andalucia

17. Playa de Castell de Ferro, Granada, Andalucia

18. Playa Granada y Poniente, Granada, Andalucia

19. Playas de Malaga, Malaga, Andalucia

20. Coast of Malaga, Malaga, Andalucia

21. Tarifa, Cadiz, Andalucia

22. Costa de Trafalgar, Cadiz, Andalucia

23. Huelva river, Huelva, Andalucia

24. El Portil, Huelva, Andalucia

25. Aldán river, Concello de Cangas, Pontevedra, Galicia

26. Arousa river and Pontevedra river, Pontevedra, Galicia

27. Minera de Galicia, A Coruna, Galicia

28. Pereiro river and Ramisqueira river, A Coruna, Galicia

29. Alcoa pond, Lugo, Galicia

30. Galician coast, Lugo, Galicia

31. Port of Figueres, Asturies

32. Villaviciosa, Asturies

33. Playa de Usgo, Cantabria

34. San Román de la Llanilla, Cantabria

35. Lamiako marsh area, Bizkaia, Basque Country

36. Gernika and Murueta, Bizkaia, Basque Country

37. Santa Clara Island, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country

38. La Concha Island, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country

39. Cala Xarraca, Ibiza, Balearic Islands

40. Playa de Talamanca, Ibiza, Balearic Islands

41. Port of Melilla, Melilla

42. Melilla Bay, Melilla

43. Monte Hacho, Ceuta

44. Playa de Desnarigado, Ceuta

45. Playa Blanca, Las Palmas, Lanzarote, Canary Islands

46. Corralejo Dunes, Las Palmas, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

47. La Tejita Beach (Granadilla), Puertito de Armeñime (Adeje), Tenerife, Canary Islands

48. Northwest coastline of Tenerife, Canary Islands