The new regulation follows the same principle as the Act on coasts and establishes open, free and public use for common activities such as walking, bathing, sailing and fishing. At the same time, it sets out the requisites and limitations for organised uses that entail intensity, danger or profit.

Surfing, windsurfing and paddle surf

These three activities are allowed during the pre-warning and warning stages of the basic municipal emergency plan for rough seas (PAEM), under the responsibility of each individual. However, as an exceptional measure, security forces can expressly prohibit them if they perceive a serious and specific risk to people’s safety.

These sports are not permitted when the emergency stage of the PAEM is activated.

People engaging in these sports are also recommended to be in possession of a federated licence or private insurance.

In the middle and high seasons, when the bathing area is delimited with buoys, the use of this area is exclusively for bathers and out of bounds for surfers. Access to the section beyond the buoys is only via the channels established for vessels.

Kitesurfing is regulated by the Act on coasts and the instructions issued by the Barcelona Maritime Authority, which prohibit it in bathing areas during the summer season and also in channels marked out with buoys for vessels and other floating artefacts.

Sports activities organised by third parties

Organised sports activities which involve special common uses or a privative use of beaches for private profit are also regulated, as are sports activities organised by federated sportspeople or bodies and events of international stature or interest to the city and in line with the holding of special sports activities.

All these activities require an administrative permit, payment of the beach maintenance tax, depending on the activity, compliance with the minimum requisites for practising the sport (registered, civil responsibility policy, professional qualification etc.). In addition, seven specific spaces are set out in the sand for these activities, at the beaches of Sant Sebastià, Somorrostro, Nova Icària, Bogatell and Mar Bella.

Recreational fishing

Recreational fishing is allowed at all beaches, except in high season, when a delimited area is set up and signposted at the Barceloneta beach between 7 pm and 9 pm. The activity is freely allowed at all beaches during high season between 9 pm and 10 am.

Non-organised open activities

Six areas are set aside for free sports and leisure activity at the beaches of Sant Miquel, Somorrostro, Nova Icària and Bogatell, with no time restrictions and without the need for an administrative permit to use them.