Canary Islands: High fines for taking stones on the “Popcorn” beach. Tourists should actually be aware that the pebbles are part of the ecosystem and must be preserved.
In Lanzarote alone, there is a loss of 1,000 kilograms (about a ton) of natural materials from protected areas every year. The Coastal Law prohibits and criminalizes the extraction of rhodolites and other natural elements such as stones and sand from beaches. The municipal council of La Oliva speaks of 4.5 tons of stones, shells and sand collected at Fuerteventura airport in 2022 alone.