Nik Hondartzak

State of the beaches

Given the need to monitor the coastal sandbanks due to the vulnerability of the coastline to climate change (Gipuzkoa Klima 2050 Strategy) and for better beach management, the Department of Environment and Hydraulic Works of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa decided in 2017 to put in The Foral Network of Littoral Videometry of Gipuzkoa is running.

The Gipuzkoa sandbanks are a natural heritage of the first order, and thanks to tools such as the KostaSystem coastal videometry system developed by the AZTI technology center (www.azti.es) it is possible, on the one hand, to improve its protection and take measures to prevent the impacts of climate change on our coastline and, on the other, improve the safety and well-being of beach users.

The information provided in this tool is an effort to make the best information available to citizens, in order to enjoy the beaches during the summer season in a responsible and safe manner. In any case, the occupancy ranges and the levels of capacity shown here are indicative and it will be the competent authorities that, based on these criteria and others they consider relevant, can open or close access to the beaches or provide timely recommendations in each case.