Awareness campaign on Popcorn Beach in Fuerteventura to help preserve the rhodolites
La Oliva City Council continues with the implementation of the environmental information service in various parts of the municipality, also focusing on Playa del Mejillón, located between the towns of Majanicho and Corralejo.
The service at this beach has as its main objective the preservation of rhodolites, calcareous fragments of red coral algae that cover the shore of this beach, commonly known as "Popcorn beach" due to its resemblance to popcorn. The fundamental purpose of this service is to ensure that visitors can enjoy the natural environment in a responsible and respectful manner.
With the intention of safeguarding the natural wealth of this area, a team of multilingual environmental guides will be present on the beach, whose job is to assist and educate tourists. These actions seek to counter detrimental behaviors that may affect the region, including the collection of rhodolites by visitors.
It is important to highlight that over the course of 2022, 4.5 tons of rhodolites, shells and sand were collected at the Fuerteventura airport. We remind everyone that what has taken nature thousands of years to generate deserves to remain in its natural environment.
The Councilor for Tourism and the Environment, David Fajardo: "These guides will continue to operate until September as part of a pilot project with a forward-looking perspective. Our goal is to mitigate the impact of human traffic in this sensitive area, ensuring that the beach is not disturbed in its natural course".
Please respect the following guideline when visiting Popcorn Beach and other natural environments:
- Respect the existing flora and fauna in the sand and sea.
- Keep the beach as it was found; the construction of monolith structures alters the landscape and can affect small animals such as hermit crabs.
- Use the accesses enabled to get to the beach.
- Deposit the garbage in the designated containers or take it with you.
- Avoid leaving cigarette butts on the beach, as they can end up in the sea and contribute to pollution.
- Park the vehicles in the designated areas, following the indications.
- Keep the environment calm by avoiding excessive noise.
- Observe and enjoy the natural cycles present on the beach.
