The Valencian government has launched the process to modernize the Catalogue of Beaches of the Valencian CommunityA key tool for regulating coastal land use and better integrating tourism with environmental protection. This review begins with a prior public consultation, a mandatory step before drafting the new regulatory text that will govern how the beaches of the autonomous territory are understood and managed.
With this initiative, the Third Vice Presidency and Ministry of Environment, Infrastructure, Territory and Recovery seeks listen to citizens, local councils and affected entities before finalizing any proposal. The idea is that the future catalog will be launched with a a view closer to the reality of the coastlineincorporating both conservation needs and the requirements of daily management, safety, rescue and basic services.
Prior public consultation and deadlines for participation
The regional department has initiated the formal process of prior public consultation, which has been announced through the Official Gazette of the Generalitat Valenciana (DOGV)Starting the day after that publication, a one month term during which any interested person or organization may Send contributions, suggestions or observations on the points that are intended to be regulated in the new Beach Catalogue.
The administration has indicated that, preferably, the shares should be channeled through the Generalitat Participation Portal, known as GVA Participa, to facilitate the processing and registration of all proposals. This digital channel allows both associations, companies in the sector, environmental groups and the general public so they can submit their proposals without the need for physical travel or complex procedures.
According to the Ministry, it is especially important to compile the opinion of those who may be affected by the future regulationwhether directly or indirectly. This aims to detect potential conflicts of use, practical application problems, or regulatory gaps in advance, and to leverage the consultation phase to improve the clarity and effectiveness of the text that will be written later.
This way of working aims to ensure that future coastal regulation is not perceived as something imposed from above, but as the result of a participatory process in which different sensibilities and points of view have been able to be expressed. Ultimately, the goal is for the catalogue to be a a useful tool for beach management, avoiding ambiguities and facilitating decision-making at both the regional and municipal levels.
Leading role of coastal municipalities
One of the key points emphasized in this review is the active participation of coastal municipalitiesThe Director General of Coasts, Ports and Airports, Marc GarcÃa Manzana, has emphasized that the Local councils are the ones who best know the day-to-day life of their beaches and those who take over direct management during the bathing seasons, from cleaning to organizing services and activities.
In the words of the regional official, the aim is for local councils not to simply comply with a rigid regulation, but rather to be able to contribute their experiences, difficulties and proposals based on years of on-the-ground management. In this way, the Generalitat hopes to develop a catalog that takes into account the diversity of local realities, from highly touristic municipalities with high summer pressure to areas with a more natural and less crowded character.
Municipal involvement will also allow for better adjustments to the criteria for the implementation of uses and activities for each stretch of beach, considering aspects such as accessibility, visitor volume, the presence of protected habitats, and coexistence with traditional activities. All of this is aimed at ensuring that the decisions made by the regional government are informed. do not clash with the daily practice of municipal services.
The Catalan government insists that this closer relationship with local councils will help to standardize criteria throughout the entire Valencian Community, so that economic operators, concession holders, and users have a clearer understanding of the regulations. At the same time, the aim is to allow each municipality some flexibility. adapt the management of its beaches within the common framework established by the catalog.
From the state model to a classification into five types of beaches
One of the most relevant changes that is intended to be incorporated in the revision of the Beach Catalogue has to do with the way of classifying the different sections of coastline. Currently, the State Coastal Law distinguishes only between natural beaches y urban beaches, a division that the Generalitat considers too simplified to reflect the complexity of the Valencian coast.
Faced with this binary scheme, the regional government proposes to move to a classification into five categories, defined according to the degree of naturalness or urbanization of each beach. This more detailed typology will allow to better differentiate between virtually untouched spaces, semi-urbanized sections, areas with a strong presence of infrastructure, and clearly urban areas, among other intermediate assumptions.
This new classification is not limited to a change of label, but will have concrete consequences regarding the permitted uses, limitations and requirements that can be applied in each category. For example, a beach classified as highly natural may be subject to stricter restrictions to preserve their environmental values, while in urban areas aspects such as the safety, accessibility and the provision of tourist services.
This review also aims to adjust regulations to the real diversity of situations These occur on the Valencian coast, where stretches of great ecological value can coexist with heavily urbanized areas within just a few kilometers. With more categories, the administration will have a finest tool for organizing activities such as beach bars, water sports, temporary events or designated bathing areas.
In short, the Generalitat wants the new catalogue to act as a clear guide for coastal planningso that decisions on concessions, authorizations or changes of use are based on an objective basis, consistent with state legislation but adapted to the peculiarities of the Valencian Community.
Purpose of the Beach Catalogue and legal security
The future Beach Catalogue will have as its main purpose delimit the natural and urban sections required by the basic regulations on costs, as well as setting general criteria for uses and activities in the public maritime-terrestrial domain. This delimitation, in addition to being cartographic, will also be functional, marking what can be done and under what conditions in each area of ​​the coast.
By developing state legislation from an autonomous perspective, the Generalitat aims to offer a greater legal certainty This applies to local authorities, businesses operating along the coast, and users alike. A clear and up-to-date catalog can help avoid conflicts of interpretation, reduce litigation and facilitate a more agile and transparent process for authorizations and concessions.
Another objective is standardize beach management criteria throughout the Valencian territory, so that there are no major differences in treatment between similar municipalities. At the same time, the regulation will allow for the maintenance of certain local specificities, always within a common framework that guarantees coherence and respect for coastal regulations.
The creation of this catalogue is also conceived as an opportunity to update existing information on the coastlineincorporating recent data on erosion, the effects of climate change, available infrastructure, and land use changes. This more comprehensive view will serve as the basis for planning the summer season and anticipate future needs in terms of equipment, access or services.
In parallel, the document will strengthen coordination between the different administrative levels involved in beach management —State, Generalitat and municipalities—, reducing overlapping responsibilities and clarifying who is responsible for what in each type of action on the public maritime-terrestrial domain.
Environmental protection, permitted uses and exclusion periods
A key section of the new catalogue will be the regulation of the permitted activities on natural beaches and in those sections where there is a relevant presence of habitats, flora or fauna of interestIn these more sensitive areas, the following will be established: specific conditions and periods of temporary exclusion in order to minimize the impact on environmental values.
These exclusion periods may coincide, for example, with breeding or migration seasons of certain speciesor with periods when dune vegetation is particularly vulnerable. During these intervals, certain recreational activities, mass events, or temporary installations may be limited or outright prohibited. to guarantee the conservation of the environment.
Even so, the Generalitat points out that environmental protection will be implemented without calling into question the maritime safety and rescue functionswhich are considered essential and must be guaranteed at all times. Similarly, consideration will be given to Beach cleaningensuring that it is carried out at times and with methods that do not compromise the natural resources that the catalogue itself intends to safeguard.
The intention is to find a reasonable balance between the orderly enjoyment of the coastline and the conservation of its valuesso that citizens can continue to use the beaches for swimming and leisure without irreversibly damaging coastal ecosystems. To this end, different levels of restriction are considered depending on the beach's category and its identified state of conservation.
This more nuanced approach will allow, for example, that in certain areas it will be possible to reconcile tourist uses and environmental education activitiesIn some areas, it is recommended to limit access to marked trails or specific walkways to reduce pressure on dune systems and associated vegetation.
With this entire review process, the Valencian Government aims to thoroughly update the way beaches are classified and managedBased on citizen participation, the knowledge of local councils, and the state legal framework, the future Beach Catalogue aims to become a benchmark tool for managing the Valencian coastline, strengthening legal certainty, protecting areas of greatest environmental value, and ensuring that present and future generations can continue to enjoy a well-maintained, accessible, and better-planned coastline.
