Blue Flag beach

A Blue Flag beach is a maritime or freshwater recreational beach that has met stringent quality standards during the whole of the previous bathing season. Blue Flag status is also applied to marinas.

Blue Flag status is awarded to beaches in more than thirty countries in Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada and the Caribbean based on standards and criteria owned and managed by an independent non-profit organisation, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) Campaign.

Compliance with Blue Flag criteria requires adherence to water quality standards, safety, the provision of services and general environmental management.

In Europe, the water quality standards are enshrined in the EC Bathing Waters Directive.

The right to fly a Blue Flag at a beach or recreational water is a strong indication of high environmental standards and is a much sought after accolade by local authorities and providers of water-based recreational facilities.

For 2008, Spain has 455 Blue Flag beaches, Greece is second at 430, and Turkey is third at 258. Greece has the most flags in the Mediterranean sea.

External links

* [http://www.blueflag.org/ Blue Flag Campaign]
* [http://www.blueflag.org/blueflag Blue Flags by Country]
* [http://www.eepf.gr/BlueFlags_02_2007.htm Blue Flag in Greece] (lists 4308 beaches)
* [http://www.abae.pt/bandeira/bandeira.galardoadas06.php Blue Flag in Portugal] (193 Beaches)
* [http://www.feeitalia.org/pages/flag2007.htm Blue Flag in Italy] (214 beaches)
* [http://www.blueflag.org/blueflag/2008/Spain Blue Flag in Spain] (447 Beaches)
* [http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Water/WaterQuality/News/MainBody,14412,en.htm Blue Flag in Ireland] (80 bathing arreas, 3 marinas - 2007)
* [http://www.seasideawards.org.uk/list.asp List of Blue Flag awards in England and Wales; Click "Blue Flag"]
* [http://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/index.asp?pg=5 List of Blue Flag beaches in Scotland]
* [http://www.blueflag.org/Criteria/Beaches Beach Criteria]