This new plan aims to end a regulatory vacuum that left many bathing areas in municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants unprotected. The initiative responds to a demand from the Canarian Federation of Municipalities (Fecam) and seeks to provide funding and regulation to these town councils to guarantee an essential service.
The Canary Islands is the second autonomous community in Spain with the most drowning deaths, recording 69 fatalities in 2025. A significant 61% of these deaths are considered preventable, often due to disregard for pre-alert signals or red flags. The plan will include a coordination system between administrations, awareness campaigns, and an inventory of bathing areas.
The Department of Territorial Policy is driving this measure following the annulment in 2023 by the Supreme Court of Decree 116/2018, which regulated safety measures on beaches. That decree had obliged small municipalities to contract control services and equipment without adequate funding, leading to its challenge by Fecam.
The Vice-Minister of Emergencies, Marcos Lorenzo, announced that the plan's development has begun and it is expected to be implemented "as soon as possible" through a decree, which will later be integrated into the Canary Islands Civil Protection Law. Lorenzo, a former mayor of Tijarafe and Fecam member, is well aware of the legal and budgetary challenges faced by municipalities.
The plan will not only provide specific funds but also establish a clear and comprehensive regulatory framework. Municipalities will not have to directly bear the cost of the service but must meet requirements such as updating safety plans and deploying warning signage, for which they will receive assistance and guidance.
While awaiting the final plan, the Executive has already been providing aid to small municipalities. In 2025, 1.5 million euros were distributed, benefiting 20 out of the 45 eligible town councils. Municipalities like El Rosario and Yaiza received the largest allocations.
The Arico Town Council has been among the most insistent in demanding a solution, emphasizing that the competence to legislate and finance lifeguard services lies with the Canary Islands Government. Areas like Playa Grande, Abades, and El Porís, which attract thousands of visitors, currently lack lifeguards.
