Canary Islands issue rare 'black alert' for British tourists at popular holiday beach
The European Union holiday hotspot has issued the rare warning for British holidaymakers at one of the most popular beaches on the popular La Graciosa which is just off Lanzarote
The Island of La Graciosa is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits heading to Canary Islands
(Image: Iñigo Fdz de Pinedo via Getty Images)
A Canary Islands destination has issued a rare "black alert" for UK tourists and holidaymakers. The European Union holiday hotspot has issued the uncommon warning for British visitors at one of the most sought-after beaches on the popular La Graciosa.
The latest warning comes after Brits were recently warned with a man facing up to a €200,000 fine for breaking a little-known rule about drone use in Spain. However this is not the only warning issued to UK tourists this season.
UK tourists have also previously been warned to check their travel insurance policy before travelling as 12 Spanish airports are facing strikes.
Graciosa Island, or more commonly La Graciosa, is a volcanic island in the Canary Islands of Spain, situated two kilometres north of Lanzarote across the Strait of El Río. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here .
The environmental organisation has released its yearly Black Flag list for Spain.
Featured on this year's list is the Playa de Caleta de Sebo, the "town beach" of La Graciosa's capital, alongside the Playa de la Francesa, positioned a little further along the coastline.
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Ecologistas en Acción's yearly report, which has been spotlighting environmental mismanagement in Spain since 2005, catalogues the beaches awarded a black flag this year.
According to Ecologists in Action, the beach in Caleta de Sebo is in a "poor state of conservation" with rubbish from vessels, beachgoers, and eateries adding to contamination, reports BirminghamLive.
At Playa de la Francesa they caution of the issue of catamaran excursions that arrive at the location "holding parties, meals, games, and contests with loud music and leaving waste behind on the sand and in the water".
They allege that catamaran passengers toss chicken scraps to birds, primarily seagulls, which can strike the hulls of the boats while attempting to catch them, and discard leftover rice into the sea to feed the fish.
Lanzarote, along with other Canary Islands such as Tenerife and Gran Canaria, is a popular destination for British tourists.
However last year Playa Blanca town beach was given a black flag by Ecologists in Action due to incidents of sewage leaks.
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Despite this Playa Blanca remains one of only two Lanzarote beaches to retain its Blue Flag status this year.
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