If you’re looking to go surfing, you’ll need to be careful, as those planning to enjoy this water sport in Barcelona could face fines of up to €1,500. This is one of the consequences of the Coexistence Ordinance, which includes penalties of between €750 and €1,500 for athletes who ignore warnings about maritime conditions.
One of the basic requirements for surfing is, logically, the presence of waves—without them, the sport would hardly make sense. And given that the Mediterranean is generally not very rough, combined with existing summer restrictions... catching waves on Barcelona’s beaches seems nearly impossible.
Of the 2,000 regular surfers along Catalonia’s coast, some have already been fined for disregarding instructions from the Guàrdia Urbana when advised to leave the water due to swell conditions.
This is something surfers disagree with, as they respect the decision to avoid surfing in summer to prevent interfering with other beachgoers. However, they argue they are fully capable of riding waves safely.
The president of the Spanish Surfing Federation has met with the City Council to negotiate a solution or at least mitigate the issue. One proposed resolution is requiring surfers to register with the federation, paying a €60 fee in the first year or just €30 if affiliated with a club.
Restrictions on certain activities run from Easter to September. These include bans on bringing pets like dogs or cats, as well as other water sports such as kitesurfing.
Protests are expected in late February, led by local clubs and surfers supporting the cause. Below is a video of December’s rally in Barcelona against these prohibitions:
What do you think of these measures? Share your thoughts!
