Marbella, a city in Spain, is considering a new regulation to protect water cleanliness. Individuals caught urinating in the sea could be fined up to €750 (about ₹ 67,000). This fine would be doubled to €1,500 (approximately ₹ 1 lakh) for repeat offenses within a year, according to a report by The Guardian. The goal of this measure is to maintain hygiene and health standards on the beaches.
While approved by local authorities, the regulation awaits public feedback before it can be enacted into law. This is not the only beach-related regulation in Spain. Nudity can lead to a €750 fine, lighting fires or barbecues without permission may result in a €1,500 penalty, and unauthorized vendors face a hefty €3,000 fine. Additionally, activities like cycling, surfing, and jet skiing are prohibited within 200 meters of the shore.
Concerns have been raised about how lifeguards will identify offenders in busy beach environments. However, a city council spokesperson clarified in a statement that the bylaw does not penalize urinating in the sea but rather aims to regulate potential antisocial behavior on the beach, similar to rules governing public spaces like city streets.
Essentially, the aim is to address and reduce disruptive behaviors like littering. Marbella is joining other Spanish cities in implementing fines for offenses related to the sea. For instance, Malaga has enforced a €300 fine (approximately ₹ 27,000) for similar actions on its beaches since 2004, while Vigo introduced a €750 penalty for urination in the sea two years ago.
