Blue Flag Programme: Standards for Sustainability

• The Blue Flag Programme is run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an international non-governmental, non-profit organization.
• The Blue Flag Programme began in France back in 1985, was implemented in Europe since 1987, and expanded outside of Europe in 2001 with South Africa's integration.
• The Blue Flag is a recognized award promoting sustainable development in freshwater and marine areas by setting standards for water quality, environmental management, education, and safety.

Blue Flag Beach Criteria Explained

• The provided explanatory notes establish a shared understanding for Blue Flag beach criteria and their implementation.
• The criteria are categorized as imperative, which are mandatory for Blue Flag status, or guideline, which are preferable but not mandatory.
• International criteria form the minimum standard, with National Operators able to set stricter criteria aligned with the Blue Flag philosophy, after approval from the National and International Juries.
• Beach administrators must know of any stricter criteria before the Blue Flag season begins.

Applying for and Maintaining Blue Flag Status

• All Blue Flag applicants use the beach criteria and explanatory notes to understand award qualifications.
• The document benefits beaches already accredited and guides National, Regional, and International Blue Flag Juries in candidate decisions.
• The Blue Flag must be flown during the Blue Flag season, acting as both a symbol of participation and compliance.
• The flag can be flown 24/7 or only during hours meeting all criteria, with adequate signage for service and facility operation times.

Non-Compliance Degrees

• Several degrees of non-compliance can result in flag withdrawal either permanently or temporarily.
• Minor non-compliance involves a problem with just one imperative criterion that's not a major threat to visitor safety/environment.
• This will be treated as major non-compliance should visitor safety and/or the environment be at risk.
• For minor issues fixed immediately, the flag isn't withdrawn, and it's just noted in a control visit report.
• Beaches get ten days to fix minor non-compliance issues; otherwise, the flag is removed until rectified and is noted on websites.
• Multiple non-compliance includes non-compliance with two to three imperative criteria of little or no consequence to visitor's health and safety, as well as to the beach environment.
• The flag gets withdrawn until all problems are fixed, and the national and international websites get updated if multiple non-compliances occur.
• Major non-compliance means not complying with a single or multiple criteria, with consequences for beach user health/safety or the environment.
• The Blue flag is immediately withdrawn and for the remainder of the season if there is major non-compliance.
• Withdrawing the Blue Flag award must be clearly indicated on the beach information board, and websites are accordingly updated.

In Case of Non-Compliance

• The National Operator must inform the relevant operators about what areas observed to be non-compliant.
• The flag's removal must be posted clearly at the beach, as well as the relevant reason.
• To raise the beach again, the local authority/beach operator must inform the National Operator about re-compliance and present needed documentation.
• A follow-up visit may be conducted for checking compliance.
• If re-compliance isn't ensured, the National Operator will ensure that the Blue Flag is withdrawn for the remainder of the season at the beach.
• For temporary withdrawals due to beach changes or emergencies, the beach management needs to notify the National Operator.
• Updates must be done on national and international websites accordingly.
• Apart from updating national and international websites on beach status, the National Operator must inform the Blue Flag International Head Office about the non-compliance.
• If controller notices the non-compliance, the National Operator will have to respond to the Blue Flag International Head Office within 30 days.

Blue Flag Award Eligibility

• The applicant of the Blue Flag award has the authority and responsibility for the beach, be it a local municipality, private hotel, national park, or private beach operator.
• The beach can be eligible if legally designated as a bathing area and possess the required facilities/services for Blue Flag criteria compliance.
• The beach must be accessible to all regardless of age, religion, and political views to to be eligible.
• While free access is preferred, reasonable fees are allowed at some beaches, and higher fees over $30 USD require a dispensation request to the International Jury.
• FEE or the National Operator may refuse or withdraw awards from beaches violating national environmental regulations or acting against the Blue Flag Programme's objectives.
• The National Operator and FEE International conduct announced and unannounced control visits on Blue Flag beaches.

Environmental Education and Information

• Each Blue Flag beach presents the public with a minimum of five environmental education activities, and those managed by a municipality can share five activities.
• Every beach highlights information about the Blue Flag Programme, using the logo and explaining the four categories of criteria.
• A Blue Flag information board must be up at the beach.
• For longer beaches, these boards are recommended to be installed approximately every 500 meters.
• Information also goes at access points, lifeguard stations, and tourist offices.
• Contact details are provided for local, national, and international Blue Flag representatives.
• In international tourism areas, information is provided in relevant languages.
• If the Blue Flag is temporarily withdrawn, a notice at the beach informs the public about the reasons.
• The Green Key Programme can be promoted by Blue Flag beaches such as, "Find more information at: www.greenkey.global (or the national Green key website of the country)".

Imperative Criteria and Environmental Education

• All regions must display information on the Blue Flag Programme as an imperative criterion.
• Beach users must be offered and promoted environmental education activities.
• Environmental Education Activities promote the aims of the Blue Flag Programme by increasing awareness and care for the local environment by recreational users and residents, training personnel and tourist service providers in environmental matters and best practices, as well as encouraging the participation of local stakeholders in environmental management within the area.
• Activities also promote sustainable recreation/tourism and share ideas, along with efforts between the Blue Flag Programme and other FEE Programmes.
• The planned environmental education activities are included in application documents with a report on activities carried out from previous season.
• At least five different activities must be offered to the municipality or community preferably during Blue Flag season.
• The activities must focus on the environment, environmental issues, Blue Flag issues, or sustainability issues.
• Environmental educational activities must be effective, relevant, and re-evaluated yearly by the local authorities for continued improvement.
• Activities must be publicized to inform general public or beach users and should get published on the Blue Flag information board, as well as newspapers within beach area.

Dissemination and Fees

• Environmental Education activities should be clearly disseminated to the public at the kiosk or clubhouse, via SMS, and whathever dissemination means there are, it's essential to showcase how users go find out more about the activities.
• Environmental activities must be free; fees are accepted only to cover lunches and water costs, but no business benefits may be made.
• Local authorities/beach operators support sustainable development projects and encourage the public to participate.
• Educational activities should address sensitive natural areas near Blue Flag beach if they're there.
• Examples of good education activities can be downloaded from the the Blue Flag international website(www.blueflag.global).

Imperative Criterion on Water Quality

• All regions have an imperative criteron to display information about bathing water quality on the Blue Flag Information board.
• Bathing water quality information should be displayed on the Blue Flag information board as a table or figure with symbols that are easily identifiable.
• How the water quality results relate to imperative criteria.
• Reference the sampling frequency to relate to the imperative criteria for water quality and conditions.
• Authority in charge of providing water quality results must do so for regular updating of the data.
• The local authority ensures the operator/beach manager gets info within one month.
• Anybody can request the entire detailed data from the local authority.

Information Related to Local Eco-Systems

• All regions have an imperative criterion to display information that relates to local eco-systems, environmental elements, as well as cultural sites.
• The criterion intends to make sure beach users become well informed and educated on relevant environmental elements such as valuable cultural sites/communities, local ecosystems, and even sensitive areas within proximity, to encourage learning about and experiencing the environment responsibly.
• Near or at the Blue Flag beach, there must be information displayed pertaining to coastal zone ecosystems, wetland zones, unique habitats, and even sensitive natural areas.
• That information must include details and a code of conduct for visitors to the area.
• If full information doesn't fit the Blue Flag Information board, a short notice informing about nearby sensitive areas and further information can be placed.
• Environmental information can be displayed at tourist areas or in tourist information offices as brochures