Ecologists in Action have awarded the city of Arrecife a Black Flag for overcrowding and pollution caused by cruise ships.
The environmental group has blasted the “poor management “of cruisers and warns that they will bring 700,000 passengers to the island this year.
They claim that cruisers cause “one of the most polluting forms of tourism” as ships keep their auxiliary engines active when in port, cause underwater noise pollution and discharges that harm marine biodiversity, and adversely affect air quality and the habitability of cities.
The group highlights the queues at Timanfaya as one of the effects of cruise tourism, along with a lack of taxis for local residents. They claim that cruisers cause overcrowding in the town, with visitors who spend little but use the toilets in bars and cafes.
400,000 cruise passengers arrived at Arrecife this year, with numbers from January to March increasing significantly compared to the first quarter of 2025. The overall increase so far has been 16.2%.
Ecologists in Action awards Blacks Flags each year, shortly after Blue Flags for excellence have been announced. This year, Arrecife is one of four locations on the Canaries to receive the dubious honour.
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