More than a hundred people gathered in Las Américas, Tenerife, to demand urgent measures against polluting discharges affecting the south coast of the island and that are repeated throughout the Canary Islands.
The concentration, convened by the Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature (ATAN) and the local surfer group Alianza Local, culminated in an emotional symbolic paddle out in which dozens of surfers entered the water in a sign of protest and unity.
People from different parts of the island came to show their support for the local community, especially those who experience the problem every day from the sea: surfers, fishermen, neighbors, and families who use the beaches and know firsthand the consequences of the discharges.
“We are very happy with the response. This shows that we are not alone, that there is a growing awareness, and that there is a collective will to stop this environmental and health disaster,” says Alianza Local. The local Alliance emphasizes that the movement "will continue to grow, expand networks, and, if necessary, take the case through legal channels."
“We are not going to stop. Our health, our sea, and our coasts are not negotiable. We will not stop denouncing this situation until what should be basic is guaranteed: a clean sea, safe beaches, and institutional responsibility.”
The mobilization has highlighted not only the deterioration of the coastline but also "the lack of transparency and response from the authorities." In their manifesto, they demand "public and frequent analyses of water quality, clear protocols for beach closures, modernization of the purification system, and political and technical responsibilities for the lack of action."
"The message has been clear: citizens are alert and organized. And this has only just begun," they concluded.