Spanish coast disappears under concrete at rate of 3 pitches a day

06/26/2007
"Land used by councils and regions does not reflect the general interest but rather those of private individuals," Greenpeace said in its 2007 report. "Building has become a potent economic engine."

Local councils are to blame for the destruction of Spain's coastline, which is disappearing under concrete at a rate of three soccer pitches a day, Greenpeace said on Tuesday.

The environmental campaign group said seaside town halls and regional governments would cause irreversible damage if allowed to carry out plans to build 3 million new houses along Spain's 5,000 km (3,100 mile) coast over the next few years.

Local councils also want to build 202,000 hotel spaces, 316 golf courses and 102 new marinas, it said.

Even tourism bosses admit rapid urban growth along Spain's Mediterranean shore threatens the industry's long term future.

"Land used by councils and regions does not reflect the general interest but rather those of private individuals," Greenpeace said in its 2007 report on the state of Spain's coasts. "Building has become a potent economic engine."

The group pointed out that police were investigating almost 100 cases of corruption connected to illegal building around the coast, involving 55 town mayors.

Last week the European Parliament condemned Spain for the disastrous impact of development on the Mediterranean coast.

Greenpeace said local officials continuously delayed plans to end the pumping of raw sewerage into the sea.

Spain sends African migrants home

The Canary Islands are struggling with an influx of African migrants

The Spanish government has repatriated more than 750 African migrants, including 30 children.

The majority were Senegalese and were caught last week trying to enter the Canary Islands, according to Spain's interior ministry.

The government said all illegal immigrants would be expelled.

The latest influx is blamed on the temporary suspension of maritime patrols between the Spanish islands and the western coast of Africa.

The Spanish Interior Minister, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, confirmed the migrants had been returned home.

"We have repatriated, with the invaluable help of the government of Senegal, nearly 600 citizens of that country," he said. "This is an unmistakable message to the mafias."

Traffickers often extort money from Africans trying to reach Europe via hazardous sea crossings to the Canaries.

See the main routes taken by African migrants

No information was given about where in Africa the other migrants had come from.

Overall this year, though, the numbers of would-be immigrants are down compared to the same time last year.

In 2006 an estimated 30,000 immigrants were caught trying to reach the Canary Islands.

The vast majority sailed from west Africa in crowded open boats, many dying en route.

The European Union's external borders agency, Frontex, suspended maritime patrols around the Spanish islands early last month, when its 2006 mission ended.

The patrols are expected to restart within weeks, after the agency receives equipment including planes, helicopters and boats.