Controversial beach act that could see you fined $1200 in Europe

A Spanish city famed for its beaches and Mediterranean coastline has announced strict new rules to help keep the sea clean, and one in particular is raising some eyebrows.

Marbella is proposing is a €750 ($1200) fine for anyone caught urinating in the sea off any of the 25 beaches in the Malaga municipality.

“Physiological evacuation” will be considered an anti-social act. Previously the fine was €300 ($480) and it is unclear if anyone was ever made to pay out.

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The proposal has been met with scorn by some holidaymakers. The Telegraph reported that one beachgoer told Spanish show En Boca de Todos: “Who is going to realise someone is taking a leak, the jellyfish?”

Another added: “Let them worry about other things because this is nonsense and idiocy.”

The 20 Minutos newspaper also reported that “urinating in the sea is one of the most widespread customs in our country”.

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The increase in fines still has to pass public consultation. Other measures include keeping dogs out of the sea, a ban on playing with a ball in the water, stopping beachgoers from reserving a place in the sand with a parasol, and fines for anyone who litters the beach with cigarette butts or food waste.

Marbella is not the first Spanish seaside resort to slap a hefty ban on beachgoers relieving themselves in the waves. Vigo in Galicia also introduced a €750 ($1200) fine in 2022.

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Other cities have also clamped down on beach behaviour.

The popular Spanish resort of Benidorm recently warned it would fine tourists up to €1200 ($1900) if they go swimming between midnight and 7am. There are also fines for falling asleep on the beach during those times too. There is also a huge range of other frowned upon behaviour like smoking on the beach, swimming while the red flag is flying and building large sand sculptures, reported The Mirror.

Beyond Spain, there are strict rules in Portugal too, where beachgoers with portable speakers can face fines of up to €36,000 ($58000), while tourists are banned from stepping foot and taking sand away from Sardinia’s famed Spiaggia Rosa beach. Those who do face fines of up to €3500 ($5600).

Greece also declared that 70 per cent of beaches must be free of sunbeds, increasing to 85 per cent in protected areas. Some beaches will be declared “untouchable”, meaning no sunbeds at all.

This story originally appeared on Stuff.co.nz and has been reproduced here with permission.