The Blue Flag Programme

The Blue Flag is an exclusive eco-label awarded to over 3200 beaches and marinas in 37 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, New Zealand, Canada and the Caribbean in the past year.

The Blue Flag Programme is owned and run by the independent non-profit organisation Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

The Blue Flag works towards sustainable development at beaches/marinas through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services.

The Blue Flag Programme includes environmental education and information for the public, decision makers and tourism operators.

A manual has been produced in cooperation with UNEP and the UNWTO, "Awards for Improving the Coastal Environment: The example of the Blue Flag". This manual of 34 pages is very useful for new countries and participants in already existing programmes for describing the programme and the roles and responsibilities of the various people and groups involved. Production of the manual was partially funded through the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, the Caribbean Regional Sustainable Tourism Development Programme and the EU.

The manual is offered as a PDF file in three languages. Please choose your preferred language:

The Blue Flag brochures gives basic information about the progamme, criteria, the application procedure and how new countries can become involved. This brochure was published in December of 2006. It is in an A5 format.

Marina Criteria

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION

• Environmental information about natural sensitive nearby land and marine areas is supplied to marina users (i).
  
  
• Code of environmental conduct is posted in the marina (i).
  
  
• Information about the Blue Flag Marina Programme and/or the Blue Flag Marina Criteria are posted in the marina (i).
  
  
• The marina should be able to demonstrate that at least three environmental education activities are offered to the users and staff of the marina (i)

• The Individual Blue Flag for boat owners is offered through the marina (i).
  

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

• Production of an environmental policy and plan at the marina. The plan should include references to water, waste and energy consumption, health and safety issues, and the use of environmentally sound products when available (i).

• Adequate and properly identified and segregated containers for the storage of hazardous wastes (paints, solvents, boat scrapings, antifouling agents, batteries, waste oil, flares). The wastes should be handled by a licensed contractor and disposed of at a licensed facility for hazardous waste (i).
  
  
• Adequate and well managed litterbins and/or garbage containers. The wastes should be handled by a licensed contractor and disposed of by a licensed facility (i).
  
  
• The marina has facilities for receiving recyclable waste materials, such as bottles, cans, paper, plastic, organic material, etc. (i).
  
  
• Bilge water pumping facilities are present in the marina (g).
  
  
• Toilet pumping facilities are present in the marina (g).
  
  
• All buildings and equipment must be properly maintained and in compliance with national legislation. The marina must be in a good integration with the surrounding natural and built environment (i).
  
  
• Adequate, clean and well sign-posted sanitary facilities, including washing facilities and drinking water. Controlled sewage disposal to a licensed sewage treatment (i).
  
  
• If the marina has boat repairing and washing areas, no pollution must enter the sewage system, marina land and water or the natural surroundings (i).
  
  
• Promotion of sustainable transportation (g).
  
  
• No parking/driving in the marina, unless in specific designated areas (i).
  

SAFETY AND SERVICES

• Adequate, clean and well sign-posted lifesaving, first-aid equipment and fire-fighting equipment. Equipment must be approved by national authorities (i).
  
  
• Emergency plan in case of pollution, fire or other accidents must be produced (i).
  
  
• Safety precautions and information must be posted at the marina (i).
  
  
• Electricity and water is available at the berths, installations must be approved according to national legislation (i).
  
  
• Facilities for disabled people (g).
  
  
• Map indicating the location of the different facilities is posted at the marina (i).
  

WATER QUALITY

Visually clean water (no oil, litter, sewage or other evidence of pollution) (i).

Beach Criteria

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION

• Information relating to coastal zone ecosystems and natural, sensitive areas in the coastal zone must be displayed
  
• Information about bathing water quality must be displayed
  
• Information about the Blue Flag Programme must be displayed
  
• Code of conduct for the beach area must be displayed and the laws governing beach use must be easily available to the public upon request
  
• A minimum of 5 environmental education activities must be offered
  

WATER QUALITY

• Compliance with the requirements and standards for excellent bathing water quality
  
• No industrial or sewage related discharges may affect the beach area
  
• Monitoring on the health of coral reefs located in the vicinity of the beach
  
• Compliance of the community with requirements for sewage treatment and effluent quality
  
• Algae or other vegetation should be left to decay on the beach unless it constitutes a nuisance

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

• A beach management committee must be established to be in charge of instituting environmental management systems and conduct regular environmental audits of the beach facility
  
• The beach must comply with all regulations affecting the location and operation of the beach (coastal zone planning and environmental legislation)
  
• The beach must be clean
  
• Waste disposal bins/receptacles must be available on/by the beach in adequate numbers, regularly maintained and emptied
  
• Facilities for receiving recyclable waste materials must be available on/by the beach
  
• Adequate and clean sanitary facilities with controlled sewage disposal
  
• On the beach there will be no unauthorised camping or driving and no dumping
  
• Regulation concerning dogs and other domestic animals on the beach must be strictly enforced
  
• All buildings and equipment of the beach must be properly maintained
  
• Sustainable means of transportation must be promoted in the beach area

SAFETY AND SERVICES

• An adequate number of lifeguards and/or lifesaving equipment must be available at the beach
  
• First aid equipment must be available on the beach
  
• There must be management of different users and uses of the beach so as to prevent conflicts and accidents
  
• An emergency plans to cope with pollution safety risks must be in place
  
• There must be safe access to the beach
  
• The beach area must be patrolled
  
• A supply of potable drinking water must be available on the beach
  
• A minimum of one Blue Flag beach in each municipality must have access and toilet facilities provided for disabled persons
  
• Map of the beach indicating different facilities must be displayed
  

Blue Flag for Boats

The small individual Blue Flag can be awarded to interested boat owners/users wanting to contribute to the Blue Flag Programme. The boat owner signs an environmental code of conduct declaring that he/she will act according the issues outlined in the code of conduct.

The following issues are included in the environmental code of conduct:

• I will not throw garbage into the sea or along the coast
  
  
• I will not release toilet water in the sea in coastal waters and sensitive areas
  
  
• I will not release of poisonous or toxic waste (oil, paint, used batteries, cleaning agents, etc.) in the sea. I will deliver these types of waste to the containers in the marina
  
  
• I will promote and use recycling facilities (glass, paper, etc.)
  
  
• I will use the most environmentally friendly products among paints, anti-foulings, paint remover, detergents, etc, that are available and work efficiently.
  
  
• I will instantly report pollution or other violation of environmental regulations to the authorities
  
  
• I will not use forbidden fishing practice and I will respect periods when fishing is prohibited
  
  
• I will protect animals and plants in the sea, including no disturbance of breeding birdsm seals or other marine mammals.
  
  
• I will respect vulnerable and nature protected areas
  
  
• I will avoid damage of the sea bottom, e.g. in the way that I anchor
  
  
• I will avoid disturbing fishery or fishing gear
  
  
• I will not buy or use objects made from protected species or from archaeological underwater findings
  
  
• I will encourage other sailers also to take care of the environment