The Council of Beaches and Environment in Benidorm has unveiled a new fish-shaped sculpture on Poniente Beach designed to raise awareness about the importance of recycling plastics and preventing waste from polluting the sea. Located in La Cala near Avenida del Murtal, the artwork, crafted by sculptor Rosendo Porro Cuesta from recycled iron and nets, features the message, ‘The only fish that should eat plastic.’ It serves as a symbolic container for beach users to deposit plastic rubbish.

This innovative initiative is part of a broader campaign by the city council to enhance environmental sustainability along the coastline. The Council hopes the sculpture will engage citizens in recycling efforts while beautifying the beach environment. Mónica Gómez, the city councillor for Beaches and Environment, emphasized that this will be a pilot project to evaluate public participation in such awareness actions. Depending on the community’s response, additional sculptures may be installed in both Poniente and Levante beaches.

The designated location was chosen due to its high foot traffic, increasing the sculpture’s visibility and usage. During the presentation of the sculpture, Benidorm’s Mayor Toni Pérez highlighted the city council’s commitment to integrating environmental care with local identity. The piece echoes the regional tradition by resembling the ‘raoret’, a fish linked to the culture of Benidorm.

Mayor Pérez reinforced the ongoing efforts aimed at protecting the marine environment, a vital resource for the area. Initial responses from beachgoers have been positive, with many showing interest in actively disposing of their waste in the sculpture. Through this initiative, Benidorm joins other cities utilising creative and visually impactful solutions to combat marine pollution, particularly from single-use plastics, which pose significant threats to coastal ecosystems.