Italy's Pink Beach and France's Coast Enforce Heavy Fines for Beach Protection Violations

The Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli Island in Italy’s Maddalena archipelago has been off‑limits to the public since 1994. Authorities forbid swimming, walking, or any presence on the sand to protect the unique pink‑coloured sediment, and violators face fines of up to €3,500.

In France, new regulations make it illegal to pick flowers or other vegetation on the shoreline. The law treats such removal as damage to protected plant species, with penalties that can reach €1,500 for offenders. Both measures aim to preserve fragile coastal ecosystems and deter mass‑tourism damage.