Public consultation on the draft Law for Managing the Canary Islands' Coast and Shores

Citizens can submit their contributions from next Monday until April 16.

The Canary Islands Government’s Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Mobility will launch on Monday the pre‑consultation phase for the draft Law on Management of the Coastline and the Canary Coasts. The proposal aims to adapt the basic state framework on coastal matters to the archipelago’s specific characteristics.

The initiative fulfills the mandate set out in Article 157 of the Canary Islands Statute of Autonomy, which grants the autonomous community exclusive competence over coastal planning and management while respecting the general regime of the maritime‑terrestrial public domain, the Ministry announced.

According to the Director General of Coasts, Antonio Acosta, the draft seeks to give the Canary Islands a bespoke regulatory framework that can manage the coastline in a way that is “adapted” to its particularities following the transfer of competencies in 2023.

“The forthcoming law aims to balance economic and social development with the protection of coastal ecosystems and natural resources, guaranteeing their sustainability,” he added.

About the Coastline

The Ministry reminds that the Canary coastline stretches over 1,126 km and features a discontinuous configuration typical of an archipelagic territory. It hosts a large share of the resident population and the main economic activities, especially tourism. At the same time, it harbors marine biodiversity of high value and fragility, requiring “differentiated and close‑by” management.

Regulatory Framework

The law will be based on the principles of sustainable development, integrated coastal management, priority conservation of coastal ecosystems, climate‑change adaptation, citizen participation, and the best available scientific evidence. It will also address the proper allocation of responsibilities among the autonomous administration, island councils, and municipalities, ensuring coherent governance of a territory that, although insular and fragmented, demands an integral and coordinated vision.

The pre‑consultation period will remain open for one month, until April 16, 2026, via the Canary Government’s Citizen Participation Portal, allowing citizens and representative organisations to submit their inputs before the final drafting of the proposal.