Over €55,000 in Fines

Chiringuitos Summer 2025

Formentera, January 10, 2026

Last summer, Formentera’s beach kiosks came under intense administrative scrutiny, which led to a large number of financial penalties. The inspections revealed numerous irregularities across various concessions along the island’s coastline.

The operation was launched by the Consell Insular de Formentera through its Department of Environment, which initiated several disciplinary proceedings after detecting repeated violations of current regulations. The process concluded with dozens of fines imposed on concessionary companies.

The total amount of fines exceeded €55,000, a figure that highlights the seriousness of the deficiencies detected during the summer season. These irregularities were not isolated incidents but rather recurring issues in some cases.

In addition to the financial penalties, the island’s administration reminded concession holders of their obligation to strictly comply with the terms set out in the official tender documents, emphasizing that environmental and service regulations must be respected without exception.

72 Penalties

The inspections led to the opening of 72 disciplinary proceedings against various beach concessions. Of these, 30 offences were classified as minor, 37 as serious, and five as very serious. The total sum of these fines reached €55,041. According to the administration, this figure reflected a concerning accumulation of infractions that impacted the proper functioning of beach services.
An analysis of the cases revealed a common pattern of irregularities. Among the most frequent issues were the lack of mandatory cleaning and maintenance logs, as well as failure to comply with the complementary services required in the tender documents.
Environmental shortcomings were also detected, including incorrect waste separation, the use of unauthorized materials, and the absence of proper measures to protect the dune ecosystem.

Regulated Prices and Safety Issues

Another major area of concern was the breach of regulated pricing, particularly with the sale of bottled water—an obligation clearly stipulated in the technical specifications of the concessions.
Inspections also uncovered shortcomings in terms of safety, hygiene, facility maintenance, and the quality of information provided to users—elements considered essential for adequate service in such heavily frequented public spaces.
Among the most serious cases, one concession racked up as many as 15 infractions, resulting in a fine of €11,305. Two other businesses were cited for 11 violations each, with penalties ranging from €11,200 to €6,800.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, one sanctioned concession committed only three infractions, receiving a €2,300 fine, reflecting a comparatively lower level of severity.

Mandatory Dismantling

In addition to the fines, the Consell Insular formally notified concession holders of the obligation to dismantle their installations starting January 15, as stipulated in their contracts. This measure, already enforced the previous season, was independent of the disciplinary proceedings.
The First Vice President and Environment Minister, Verónica Castelló, emphasized that compliance with the contract terms was not optional and that repeated violations carried consequences. She also expressed her confidence that the concessions would comply with the dismantling order within the specified period.