La Francesa beach in the idyllic landscape of La Graciosa has been punished with the black flag awarded annually by Ecologists in Action. The reason? Tourist overcrowding.
According to the environmental group, this bay is visited "repeatedly throughout the day" by nautical tourism companies that disembark tourists. This Protected Natural Area is regularly inhabited by just over 700 people, according to the 2019 census. However, it receives an average of 2,457 people daily, according to the environmental organization.
La Francesa beach, located a short distance from the only port of entry and exit to the island, receives several daily catamarans "full of tourists" around noon, in addition to the visitors who arrive through the port of Caleta de Sebo.
During the first three months of 2023, La Graciosa, a Biosphere Reserve, exceeded 103,000 visitors. The eighth island is located within the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park, the Integral Natural Reserve of Los Islotes of the Natura 2000 Network, and has been declared a Geopark.
Despite its protection, "neither the beach nor the island are what they used to be. Uncontrolled tourism has turned what was once an idyllic place in the Atlantic into just another crowded and noisy beach," denounces Ecologists in Action.
With the aim of conserving this space, Ecologists in Action proposes establishing a maximum quota of tourists and catamarans to avoid mass visits and protect the natural environment.
The environmental association points to "uncontrolled tourism" and jeep-taxis that "arrive at high speed" as causing part of the pollution. Also to the "bars and restaurants" that are located on the beachfront, as well as to the 19 boats that drop off tourists throughout the day in the town, in addition to the hundreds of tourists from the catamarans, "with music at full volume."
The confederation of groups in defense of the environment assures that "if César Manrique were to resurrect, he would prefer to die again in the face of such a situation."
To conclude, they relate that La Francesa, in particular, and La Graciosa, in general, have "far exceeded their carrying capacity" and this constant arrival of people "puts at risk the natural value of a very scarce system" in the Islands.
Ecologists in Action asks to "counteract the effects produced by overtourism that is in opposition to the sustainable growth promoted by the Sustainable Development Goals."
At the same time, it points out the "imperative" need to analyze in the marine environment all levels of recreational use, its intensity, quantify them, and determine the carrying capacity for this coastline.