Fifteen beaches in Andalucia have had their prestigious Blue Flags withdrawn due, in the main, to deficiencies in lifeguard services during the summer season.
ADEAC, the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education, noticed deficiencies in lifeguard services during the summer and, being a health and safety matter, took the decision to withdraw the flags.
In Málaga province, the affected beaches are Malapesquera and Carvajal in Benalmádena, Sabinillas in Manilva. In Cádiz province it is La Alcaidesa in La Línea de la Concepción, Torreguadiaro and Cala Sardina in San Roque and La Barrosa and Sancti Petri in Chiclana de la Frontera.
In Almeria, the flags have been withdrawn from Marina de la Torre, Venta del Bancal-Las Ventanicas, Descargador and Piedra Villazar beaches in Mojácar.
In Huelva the affected beaches are Central and La Gaviota in Isla Cristina and Matalascañas beach in Almonte. The latter, however, is appealing the decision as the deficiency is apparently a bureaucratic problem rather than one of health and safety.