Environmental and surf communities in Tenerife are calling on the public to join a demonstration today (Sunday) at 11:30am against the growing crisis of illegal wastewater discharges into the sea.
The protest, organised by the Asociación Tinerfeña de Amigos de la Naturaleza (ATAN) and local surf collective Alianza Local, will take place at at Playa Honda, in the popular tourist area of Playa de Las Americas.
The protest comes amid mounting concern over the presence of untreated sewage, chemicals, and medical waste being dumped in the ocean around the island, which organisers say is making people sick and putting beachgoers and marine life at serious risk.
"The Sea Is Not a Dump"
In a joint statement, ATAN and Alianza Local said: "The sea is not a dump. Beaches should not be danger zones. Our health is not negotiable." They accuse authorities of failing to act decisively, stating that “protocols to ensure bathing safety are not being triggered, and there’s a lack of transparent information.”
The protest aims to demand:
A Widespread and Ongoing Problem
The issue has escalated in recent weeks. Six beaches across the island have been temporarily closed due to the presence of faecal bacteria. The worst case is Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz, which has remained closed since July 2024 without a resolution to the underlying pollution.
According to a report by Tragsa in 2021, Tenerife has over 190 discharge points into the sea, most of them either unauthorised or operating with expired permits. Only 34% of these discharge points are legally approved.
Not Just a Surfers’ Protest
Organisers stress that this is a collective call to action, not limited to surfers or environmentalists. “This is not just a surfers’ issue, it’s a shared struggle to protect our right to a clean sea, safe beaches, and responsible environmental management,” the statement reads.
They hope the protest will “break the institutional silence” and draw attention to what they call a major environmental and public health emergency facing the island.
