Police recover ‘popcorn beach’ stones from gardens across Fuerteventura
Local Police in La Oliva, on Fuerteventura, are recovering rhodoliths, which are the small white, coral-like stones found on the island’s famous “popcorn beach”, after discovering they were being used as decoration in private gardens and terraces.
Officers from the Local Police Environmental Unit have been working with the council’s environmental guides to locate the stones at homes across the municipality. Once identified, the rhodoliths are carefully collected and returned to the coastline, following an official protocol.
La Oliva Town Hall has warned that removing these natural elements is illegal. Spanish natural heritage law bans the collection of stones, plants or other materials from the natural environment, as well as their use for decorative or artistic purposes. The council says the problem has contributed to the near disappearance of rhodoliths from some local beaches.
Mayor Isaí Blanco said the operation aims to undo the damage caused by years of removal and to protect La Oliva’s fragile coastal landscape. He stressed that while similar actions have been taken in the past, the continued appearance of rhodoliths in private properties shows that more awareness and education are still needed.
The councillor for the environment, David Fajardo, has asked for public cooperation. He is urging anyone who has rhodoliths at home, whether in gardens, on terraces or used as decoration, to return them voluntarily so they can be placed back in their natural setting. “Protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility,” he said, adding that voluntary returns help preserve a unique and valuable part of Fuerteventura’s coastline.
The appeal follows previous incidents in which hundreds of kilos of rhodoliths taken from the “popcorn beach” area were found abandoned at Fuerteventura Airport, highlighting how widespread the issue has become.
La Oliva Town Hall is asking anyone who has these stones, or knows someone who does, to contact the Environment Department via medioambiente@laoliva.es so arrangements can be made to return them safely to the coast.
Share:
