Spain, Mar 22:
Tourists visiting Lanzarote and Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands are being warned against taking
sand, stones, and rocks from beaches. Doing so can result in hefty fines ranging from 128 pounds (Rs
13478) to 2,563 pounds (Rs 2,69879), The New York Post.
This seemingly harmless tradition of collecting souvenirs is having a detrimental impact on the islands’
ecosystems. Authorities report that Lanzarote loses roughly a tonnes of volcanic material from its
beaches each year, while Fuerteventura’s famous “Popcorn Beach” loses a staggering tonnene of sand
every month, reported the news portal.
Removing this material disrupts the natural balance of the shorelines and puts them at risk. Tourists
caught taking the popcorn-shaped pebbles face fines between 128 and 512 pounds, while those taking
larger amounts could be hit with the maximum penalty.
This crackdown comes amid concerns about the Canary Islands reaching a tipping point due to mass
tourism. Tenerife recently declared a water emergency due to severe drought conditions, with some
officials blaming tourist consumption for straining resources. One hotel was found to be using four times
more water per guest than a local resident.
