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Date Published: 28/03/2025

Cádiz is preparing its beaches for the summer surge while protecting the environment

The city is investing in eco-friendly ways to enjoy its coastline as concerns grow over tourism pressures

Cádiz is getting ready for the Easter and summer rush, making sure its beaches can handle the crowds while keeping conservation in mind. The local government is working on upgrades to the wooden walkways at Playa de Cortadura, showcasing marine biodiversity at Playa de la Caleta, and grappling with the growing impact of tourism on the city.

One of the biggest projects is happening at Playa de Cortadura, where the City Council is working on replacing four access walkways to protect the delicate dune's ecosystem. The project will cost €114,303.29 and will use sustainably sourced pine wood and stainless steel designed to withstand the salty sea air.

Two of the walkways will be 1.8 metres wide, while the other two will be 1.5 metres wide. There will also be nine new signs urging visitors to stick to the walkways and not trample the dunes. To carry out this work, the City Council has requested permission from the Territorial Delegation of Sustainability, Environment, and Blue Economy in Cádiz. The application has been published in the Official Gazette of the Regional Government of Andalusia (BOJA), and locals have until Sunday April 28 to voice any concerns and submit any objections before work begins.

Meanwhile, at Playa de la Caleta, famous for its stunning sunsets and as a source of inspiration for artists, there’s a lot more happening beneath the waves. Researchers from the University of Cadiz have found around 100 species of macroalgae and 302 animal species in the area, including five that are new to science and two more waiting to be classified.

In response, an updated visual guide has been set up, with information panels and QR codes for easy access, including audio guides for people with disabilities. The exhibition, now in its second round, comes after the success of the first, with plans for a third in the future.

A comparative study of algae from the 1960s suggests that climate change is altering the marine ecosystem, causing some species to disappear and new ones to pop up. The aim of the exhibition is to educate both locals and tourists about the rich biodiversity right in their backyard.

While the city is taking steps to protect its beaches, there’s no getting around the fact that tourism is becoming a bigger issue. The Ayuntamiento de Cádiz has admitted that a tourist tax is likely on the horizon, though there’s no set date yet.

At a recent City Council session in March, they discussed policies to tackle the strain tourism puts on housing, like banning the conversion of residential buildings into hotels and cutting down on short-term holiday rentals. In the past year, 477 tourist apartments have already been deregistered, with a targeted 4% reduction in holiday lets.

Residents and political groups are concerned that areas like La Viña and El Pópulo are losing their sense of community due to too many tourists. While Cádiz hasn’t seen the same level of anti-tourism protests as other Spanish cities, frustrations over rising housing costs and overcrowding are growing.

Images: Adrianna CA and Filmic Tempus/Pexels

Jorge Fernández Salas/Unsplash

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