Sahara Sand Continues to Pour Unchecked onto Fuerteventura

The Majorero Assembly – Canary Coalition of Fuerteventura (AM‑CC) has expressed deep concern over the recent docking of the cargo ship Dura Bulk in Puerto del Rosario. The Moroccan‑flagged vessel unloaded yesterday several tonnes of sand originating from El Aaiún, Western Sahara, intended for construction works on the island.

AM‑CC warns that the uncontrolled import of Saharan sand poses both legal and environmental risks.

Environmentally, the party stresses that such operations bypass the necessary border controls because the Border Inspection Point (PIF) in Puerto del Rosario remains inactive, allowing materials to enter without proper supervision.

According to Canary Islands legislation, the handling of sands from the African continent is regulated by the Order of 6 August 2001. This decree establishes the criteria and protocols that must guide the import, control, and phytosanitary treatment of these materials, aiming to prevent the introduction of invasive species, pests, or contaminants into the archipelago.

Key requirements of the regulation include:

• Mandatory treatment of imported sand through methods that eliminate contaminants and pathogenic organisms (e.g., fumigation, high‑temperature thermal treatment, chemical applications, or physical processes such as washing and sieving).
• Documentation proving the sand’s origin and the treatments applied.
• Inspection at the Border Inspection Point (PIF) before the sand can be used.

“The arrival of this vessel calls into question the effective compliance with the regulation,” the party notes, emphasizing that the State, via the PIF, must ensure these controls are carried out at the port’s entry.

AM‑CC therefore reiterates its request to the Spanish Government to urgently reinforce the PIF in the island’s capital. Although the facilities were prepared by the Canary Islands Government and the municipal council, the PIF still lacks the personnel needed for operation, preventing effective control of incoming goods.

“This is an action that depends exclusively on the State’s commitment to Fuerteventura—a commitment that, unfortunately, we still do not see fulfilled,” the party says. It also reminds authorities that inspection points must be coordinated among the various administrations involved.

“The proper functioning of the PIF depends not only on the available infrastructure but also on the provision of specialized staff by the State, effective coordination with local bodies such as the Island Council and the municipal council, and compliance with national regulations on external health, customs, and phytosanitary control,” AM‑CC added.

AM‑CC criticises “passivity” in the exploitation of Western Sahara

The party also reaffirms that this practice violates United Nations and European Union resolutions, which state that permanent sovereignty over Western Sahara’s natural resources belongs to the Sahrawi people.

“With this operation, the systematic plundering of resources that the Kingdom of Morocco imposes on the Sahrawi people is perpetuated, feeding Moroccan power over Sahrawi territory against international rulings,” AM‑CC asserts.

The nationalist formation warns that the sand discharge could breach international law, as well as Spanish and Canary regulations governing the import and treatment of foreign sands. Consequently, AM‑CC calls on the competent authorities to investigate the case urgently and to ensure strict compliance with current legislation to avoid illegal practices that could have environmental, legal, and political consequences.