Dogs could soon be allowed back onto two beaches in Arrecife under proposed changes to local coastal rules, but the move has reignited concerns over protecting one of the Canary Islands' most vulnerable seabirds.

Arrecife Town Hall has opened a public consultation on plans to amend its coastal management regulations. If approved, pet dogs would be allowed on La Cruz and El Cable beaches for part of the year instead of remaining permanently banned.

Under the proposal, dogs would not be permitted on the beaches between 1st February and 1st July, which is considered the main breeding season for the Kentish plover, a protected bird that nests directly on sandy beaches. For the rest of the year, dogs would only be allowed during daylight hours, from sunrise to sunset.

The draft rules also allow authorities to close the beaches immediately if nests, eggs or chicks are found outside the usual breeding period. The changes would only apply to La Cruz and El Cable, with the ban remaining in place across the rest of Arrecife's coastline.

The Kentish plover is listed as a vulnerable species in the Canary Islands and is regarded by conservation groups as one of the archipelago's most threatened birds. It lays its eggs in shallow scrapes in the sand, making nests particularly difficult to spot and vulnerable to disturbance.

However, Lanzarote's Environment Department has warned that wildlife does not always follow fixed dates. Officials pointed to photographs taken on 7th July showing an adult bird and a chick, stressing that breeding activity can continue beyond the proposed restriction period and that beaches would need close monitoring before reopening to dogs.

The proposed regulations also state that if the Kentish plover's conservation status is upgraded to endangered, permission for dogs to access the beaches would automatically be withdrawn and the full ban would return. Assistance dogs and rescue dogs would continue to be exempt.

Dog owners would still be required to keep their pets under control at all times, clean up after them and carry the animal's identification and health documents, along with any required licences for dogs covered by additional legal controls. Anyone unable to produce the necessary paperwork could be asked to leave the beach.

The rules also make clear that dogs must not disturb other beach users or harass wildlife. Any animal found roaming without proper control could be removed by the authorities.