These are the black flags that Ecologistas en Acción have awarded to the beaches of Catalonia

Six points on the Catalan coast have received a black flag in the annual report of Ecologists in Action, which analyzes 8,000 kilometers of coastline throughout the State.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
14 June 2023 Wednesday 22:46
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These are the black flags that Ecologistas en Acción have awarded to the beaches of Catalonia

Six points on the Catalan coast have received a black flag in the annual report of Ecologists in Action, which analyzes 8,000 kilometers of coastline throughout the State. Among these, the one that has been granted to the Delta de l'Ebre stands out, due to the impact on the ecosystem and on the rice fields that the cut in the amount of water for irrigation established by the Ebre Hydrographic Confederation will have.

The document that the Ecologists in Action have presented denounces what they consider "flagrant cases of contamination and environmental mismanagement." As a novelty, this year the proliferation of designated dog beaches without a prior environmental impact assessment has also been taken into account and a black flag has been awarded to Calzoa, in Vigo.

Among the black flags that have fallen on Catalonia, the one that refers to the mismanagement of the Delta de l'Ebre stands out. The NGO has ensured that the 50% reduction in the supply of water by the two irrigating communities of the natural area will endanger the survival of the Delta's ecosystems and will compromise the ecological well-being of the Natural Park, which is a protected area. considered a Biosphere Reserve.

"We are not only facing an agricultural question, but we are in front of rice fields that are part of the ecosystem body that identifies, nourishes and allows the existence of the Delta itself", have considered those responsible for the report.

On the other hand, the document has also warned about the impact of the projected cultural complex on Savinosa beach in Tarragona, in the area of ​​the old preventorium. In this way, it has indicated that it will entail an urban growth of up to 22,000 square meters and has considered that the planned social and cultural services are not necessary because the city already offers them to other much better connected areas such as the center.

In the demarcation of Barcelona, ​​the black flags of the coast have fallen, on the one hand, on the coast of the old cement factory of Vallcarca, in Sitges. There, the local government wants to launch a tourist complex with apartments, hotels and a prominent commercial area. In addition, it will also include a technological campus and other equipment.

For the NGO spokesperson, Anna Aldarias, this is a flagrant case of mismanagement because "it is an urban operation that will destroy an area with key ecological and environmental importance and great biodiversity." In addition, she has considered that this space should be protected.

In addition, in the Barcelona metropolitan area, the NGO's attention has focused on the Golf de Roses and the beaches of Begur. In the first place, he recalled that last February the central government gave the green light to the Pla d'Ordenació de l'Espai Marítim, which will regulate the areas of the coast where offshore wind farms may be installed. The entity regretted that the Golf de Roses has been included in this list, given that it is an outstanding natural space in Catalonia that, among other things, contains coves of high scenic value. It is a sustainable fishing reserve and hosts numerous migratory processes of cetaceans and birds.

In addition, in the Barcelona metropolitan area, the NGO's attention has focused on the Golf de Roses and the beaches of Begur. In the first place, he recalled that last February the central government gave the green light to the Pla d'Ordenació de l'Espai Marítim, which will regulate the areas of the coast where offshore wind farms may be installed. The entity regretted that the Golf de Roses has been included in this list, given that it is an outstanding natural space in Catalonia that, among other things, contains coves of high scenic value. It is a sustainable fishing reserve and hosts numerous migratory processes of cetaceans and birds.