From today, the Basque Country manages its coastline with the key to developing the "Blue Economy"

• Amaia Barredo: "Coastal development must generate new sustainable industries, boost the blue economy, and support the development of a global Basque Country"
• "The coastal area represents, like the rural area, an opportunity for our youth"
• Transferred powers: authorizations for the beach season: awnings, chairs and hammocks, pedal boats, tennis courts, athletic races, beach football or rugby competitions, and even horse racing, anchorages, floating docks, and swimming areas
• Personnel transferred from the State to the Basque Country: 14 positions -10 civil servants and 4 employed- will be incorporated into Basque Government offices
• The Basque Government will manage special activities of intensity, danger, or profitability, such as aggregate extraction and dredging
• Occupancy control with removable facilities such as cafeterias, ice cream stands, and water bars
• The Basque Government will manage transit and sea access easements

VG 01 04 2025

Mrs Amaia Barredo, Regional Minister of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture, and Fisheries, has announced that, starting today, Tuesday, the Basque Government will manage its coastline: 246 kilometers of waters and coasts from Punta de Cobarón, on the western border of Bizkaia, to the Bidasoa River at the confluence of Gipuzkoa and Lapurdi. “The development of the Basque coastline” Minister Barredo emphasized, “must generate new sustainable alternatives, promote a new blue economy, and support the development of a global Basque Country. The coastal sector, like the rural sector, must represent an opportunity for our youth.”

On December 23, 2024, through the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, the Government of Spain approved the Royal Decree transferring functions and services from the State Administration to the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country in matters of coastal planning and management. The effective date of the transfer was set for today, April 1, 2025.

The Basque Country has 246 km of coastline. Bizkaia has 27 coastal municipalities, and Gipuzkoa has 10. In terms of ports, in addition to Pasaia and Bilbao, the smaller ones are Hondarribia, Donostia-San Sebastián, Orio, Getaria, Zumaia, Deba, Mutriku, Ondarroa, Lekeitio, Ea, Elantxobe, Mundaka, Bermeo, Armintza, Santurtzi, Getxo, and Plentzia.

The ports and marinas of Moia-Hondarribia, Hondarribia, Donostia-San Sebastián, Orio, Getaria, Deba, Mutriku, Mundaka, Bermeo, Armintza, and Plentzia have a total of 3,757 berths for vessels ranging in length from 6 to 16 meters and a total of ​​approximately 30,000 m2 of technical areas for repairs and wintering. EKP plans, manages, promotes, and operates the Basque Country's ports and recreational nautical facilities.

"All of this generates, not only at sea, but also positive activity for the development of the Basque coast: service companies, shipyards, loading and shipping operations, canneries, fish markets, repairs, hospitality, tourism, etc.," observes Amaia Barredo.