Gran Canaria's Cabildo processes more than 220 penalty files in protected natural spaces

The Cabildo de Gran Canaria, through its environmental officers, has processed more than 220 penalty files against visitors for violations in protected natural spaces during 2025 and the first half of 2026, according to a statement issued by the island authority and reported by several media outlets. The majority of enforcement actions are concentrated in the Reserva Natural Especial de las Dunas de Maspalomas and the Parque Rural del Nublo.

The figures by year

During 2025, 151 penalty files were opened against foreign nationals of various nationalities. Of these, 64.24% had already been paid and closed, while more than 80% had been duly served, according to the Cabildo.

These figures are supplemented by data from 2026, a year in which the institution has 280 environmental infractions in protected spaces currently under processing. Of those, 75 relate to foreign nationals, representing close to 27% of the total.

According to the outlet Atlántico Hoy, the violations attributed to foreign visitors were committed by people from Canada, Hungary, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Poland, Slovenia, France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and China. Among these, German, French, Italian and British nationals account for the highest number of files.

Maspalomas and El Nublo: the main hotspots

The protected areas recording the greatest number of enforcement actions are the Reserva Natural Especial de las Dunas de Maspalomas, with 43 interventions logged so far in 2026, and the Parque Rural del Nublo, with 16. The Cabildo notes that these figures reflect the high volume of visitors both spaces receive throughout the year.

The Cabildo's councillor for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge, Raúl García Brink, stated that "preserving our surroundings is something that must be part of the outlook of every person who enjoys our landscapes, whether they live here or are visiting us." García Brink added that "the vast majority of those who visit us do so responsibly," but stressed the need to "keep strengthening information and awareness efforts."

Stepped-up surveillance and management plans

The Cabildo says it has reinforced surveillance and conservation work at the most heavily visited sites, with the aim of protecting natural spaces and encouraging responsible use of the land.

The institution notes that it recently approved the drafting of a Plan de Ordenación de los Recursos Naturales (PORN) for the Reserva Natural Especial de las Dunas de Maspalomas — an instrument designed to manage the enclave's 404 hectares sustainably, curb coastal erosion and reconcile ecosystem preservation with tourist use. Alongside this sits the Masdunas project, which aims to rehabilitate and rewild the dune system.

In February 2025, a regulation and conservation plan was launched for the Monumento Natural del Roque Nublo, intended to organise and control access to the site. According to the Cabildo, this measure has cut the number of visits by 50% in just one year, thanks to the introduction of a capped daily visitor capacity and restrictions on private vehicle parking at the trailhead car park.

Penalty framework

Fines for straying outside permitted areas in these protected spaces can range from 150 to 600 euros. In cases of repeat offences or serious damage to flora and fauna, the amounts can rise, according to published reports on the situation at Las Dunas de Maspalomas, where visitors breaching the marked safety perimeters have been documented on various occasions.