Reckless tourists rescued will be billed over €2,000 automatically

80 % of those rescued are tourists, who often leave the islands before an administrative notice can be served.

The coastline of the Canary Islands will no longer be a playground for impunity. The regional government has announced an immediate tightening of emergency management, confirming that rescue fines in the Canaries will be processed automatically whenever prior negligence by a citizen or visitor is proven, reports Diario de Avisos.

End of Free‑Riding on Rescue Services

The new regulation, driven by the Directorate General of Emergencies, aims to curb the constant interventions in hazardous zones, especially those caused by ignorance or the deliberate ignoring of current alerts.

“If there is a declared alert or access is prohibited, the cost of the deployment will fall on the rescued person,” said Fernando Figuereo, Director General of Emergencies for the Government of the Canary Islands.

Until now, many sanction files remained unresolved, particularly when the parties involved were visitors. Official data show that 80 % of rescued individuals are tourists, who often depart the archipelago before any administrative notification can be delivered.

From now on, the on‑scene authority officer will collect the necessary data and issue the fine at the moment of assistance. This close collaboration between security forces and rescue teams will prevent offenders from evading financial responsibility.

The Price of Recklessness: €2,000 per Helicopter Hour

The new Civil Protection Law establishes a cost schedule intended to deter risky behavior. Offenders must cover the operational expenses of the rescue, which can start at €2,000 for each hour of helicopter use. Additional charges will apply for rescue boats and ground personnel mobilized.

Conditions Triggering Automatic Billing

• Existence of a weather alert due to coastal phenomena or rain.
• Access to areas expressly cordoned off by authorities.
• Swimming on beaches where a red flag is flying.

The “Trap” Effect of Social Media on the Coast

“From the Civil Protection and Emergencies sub‑sector, coordinated by Carlos Esquivel, we have identified a growing phenomenon: the influence of social media. Many tourists venture into natural pools or high‑risk cliffs seeking the perfect photograph, ignoring the dangers of the northern sea or Atlantic currents,” explains Diario de Avisos.

“Digital platforms are encouraging access to highly hazardous coastal zones,” warned officials from the Executive.

In response, the administration is working with the Tourism Ministry and Promotur to launch awareness campaigns that foster a genuine preventive culture. The goal is not revenue generation but to stop visitors from endangering their own lives and those of rescuers, who often operate under extreme conditions.

The new rescue‑fine policy will take effect before 2027, marking a turning point for coastal safety in the islands. The message is clear: safety is a shared responsibility, and recklessness will now carry a very high cost.