How clean is that beach?
You’ve saved your money, packed your bags and are ready to embark on a new adventure. Through all the planning, the same image came to mind: the perfect beach. Whether rocky, sandy, tropical or wild, beaches conjure up images of vacation and relaxation. But how do we know if that perfect beach is clean?
I’m not just talking about cigarette butts and beer bottles. Water quality and environmental management factor into clean standards as well, and countries may evaluate all these things differently—or not at all. You don’t have to be a clean freak to care about this stuff.
The Blue Flag Programme has established criteria for beaches and marinas, working towards their sustainable development. What does it take for a beach to be awarded with a Blug Flag? Each season, a beach needs to meet 32 criteria covering environmental education and information, water quality, safety and services, and environmental management. If conditions change, the Blue Flag is withdrawn.
More than 3,450 beaches and marinas in 41 countries across Europe, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, the Caribbean and Brazil have Blue Flags. Is your perfect beach among them?
September 13th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Noble project but somehow I hope my favourite beaches will never match those requirements: a lovely and clean beach can survive without a “map of the beach”, “lifeguards” and “supply of drinking water”. Actually I see a perfect beach like a perfect hiking path. The less we add the better it is.
September 18th, 2010 at 2:50 am
This gives me a lot to think about. Another place I often go to learn about environmental issues is at https://www.youtube.com/greenopolistv because they cover a lot of important stuff too. Something else that’s related to saving the ocean is this video on the GreenopolisTV YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJVJavUg5Qw.
November 3rd, 2010 at 11:36 am
Yes, I would say it is. I have experienced amazing beaches in Brazil! I just came back from Florianopolis, also a fantastic place. I have also heard that for example the island Morro de Sao Paulo have great beaches!!