These are the 48 black flag beaches in Spain: check if they are in your area.

The Black Flags 2025 report by Ecologists in Action has now revealed the 48 Spanish coastal areas most degraded by pollution or poor environmental management. As every year, this organization has inspected more than 8,000 kilometers of the Spanish coastline and awarded two Black Flags per province and autonomous city: one for pollution and one for poor management. The main causes identified in this report are untreated wastewater discharges, uncontrolled urban development in protected areas, and the accumulation of plastics and microplastics. This edition reiterates its condemnation of the appropriation of the public maritime and terrestrial domain by private interests and the institutional inaction to curb this illegal practice.

According to the report, 13 cases linked to coastal occupation have been detected, 12 due to spills and poor sanitation , nine affecting biodiversity, and five due to waste accumulation. Also highlighted are four poorly planned port interventions, three episodes of chemical pollution, one case of damage to historical heritage , and a controversial CO₂ storage project.

Complete list of black flags in 2025 ANDALUSIA

• Huelva : La Antilla (poor management) | Huelva Estuary (pollution)
• Cádiz : Tarifa (urban planning) | Trafalgar Coast (pollution and occupation)
• Malaga : Proliferation of marinas | Microplastics from wastewater treatment plants
• Granada : Coastal Path | Guadalfeo Delta (pollution)
• Almería : Vera Beaches | The Roquetas de Mar Beach

ASTURIAS

• Espartal Dunes (Salinas) | Villaviciosa Estuary

CANTABRIA

• Liencres Dunes | Usgo Beach (Solvay pollution)

CATALONIA

• Tarragona : CO₂ warehouse off the coast | Ascó nuclear power plants
• Barcelona : Llobregat Delta | Barcelona Beaches
• Girona : Llançà | Lloret de Mar

CEUTA

• Surroundings of the Monte Hacho SCI | Desnarigado Beach

BASQUE COUNTRY

• Bizkaia : Guggenheim Urdaibai | Bilbao Superport
• Gipuzkoa : Txingudi Bay | Getaria

GALICIA

• Pontevedra : Toralla Island (Vigo) | O Con Beach (Moaña)
• A Coruña : ALTRI, Arousa estuary | Port of Suevos, Arteixo
• Lugo : Pancha Island (Ribadeo) | Alcoa Factory, Xove

BALEARIC ISLANDS

• Ibiza : Fornells | Portmany Bay

CANARY ISLANDS

• Tenerife : Cradle of the Soul Project (Adeje) | Garden Beach (Puerto de la Cruz)
• Las Palmas : Three Islands in the Corralejo Dunes (Fuerteventura) | Caleta del Sebo and Francesa Beaches (La Graciosa)

MELILLA

• Melilla Coast Breakwaters | Melilla Wastewater Pumping Station (EBAR)

MURCIA

• Mar Menor | Portman and Sierra Minera

VALENCIAN COUNTRY

• Castellón : Mar Xica (Benicarló) | Port of Castellón (industrial area)
• Valencia : LPOCV Law | Beaches affected by DANA and damage to the Albufera
• Alicante : Calas Mosca and Ferris | Levante Beach (Benidorm)

With this list, Ecologists in Action invites citizens to reflect on the state of conservation of their nearest coast. If you live or spend your summers in a coastal area, check if your community is among those affected by a black flag this year on this list or on the map prepared by the NGO . Although 48 have been awarded, Ecologists in Action warn that there could be many more if all the issues had been inspected with the same level of detail.