Blue Flag beach

The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach, marina, or sustainable boating tourism operator meets its standards. The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE, which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of more than 100 organisations spreading 81 countries. As of 2025, Spain is the country with the most Blue Flag beaches in the world, with 642 Blue Flags and 749 awards in total.
FEE's Blue Flag criteria include standards for quality, safety, environmental education and information, the provision of services, and general environmental management. The Blue Flag is hence sought as an indication of high environmental and quality standards.
Certificates, which FEE refers to as awards, are issued on an annual basis to beaches and marinas of FEE member countries by the Blue Flag international jury. For a beach to be awarded, it must meet at least thirty of the Blue Flag's criteria spanning four categories. Meanwhile, for a marina to be awarded, it must meet at least thirty-eight criteria spanning six categories. The awards are announced yearly on 5 June for Europe, Canada, Morocco, Tunisia, and other countries in a similar geographic location, and on 1 November for the Caribbean, New Zealand, South Africa, and other countries in the Southern Hemisphere.
In the European Union, the water quality standards are incorporated in the EC Water Framework Directive.

Blue Flags awarded

2024 Awards

As a result of the 2024 award cycle, a total of 5,010 Blue Flags are waving around the world. Spain was the most awarded country, with a total of 747 Blue Flags.

Table of Blue Flags in force 2024

The table below lists the total number of Blue Flags in each country as a result of the 2024 awards cycle.

Country

Blue Flag Beaches

Blue Flag Marinas

Blue Flag Boats

Total Blue Flags

Albania

History

The Blue Flag was inspired by the "Message to the Sea" campaign, where students wrote messages and put them inside bottles. These were dropped in the Atlantic Ocean with the intent of washing up onshore on different beaches and increasing awareness of human action harming the oceans.
The Blue Flag was then officially created in France in 1985. It started as a pilot scheme from the Office of the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe where French coastal municipalities were awarded the Blue Flag on the basis of criteria covering sewage treatment and bathing water quality. Eleven French municipalities got the award in 1985.

Blue Flag on European Community level in 1987

1987 was the "European Year of the Environment" and the European Commission was responsible for developing the European Community activities of that year. The Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe presented the concept of the Blue Flag to the commission, and it was agreed to launch the Blue Flag Programme as one of several "European Year of the Environment" activities in the Community. The European Commission co-sponsored the Blue Flag for the next 11 years.
The concept of the Blue Flag was developed on the European level to include other areas of environmental management, such as waste management and coastal planning and protection. Besides beaches, marinas also became eligible for the Blue Flag. In 1987, 244 beaches and 208 marinas from ten countries were awarded the Blue Flag.
Many challenges arose from the advertisement of Blue Flags during this time. For example, some popular beaches would not have been eligible for the Blue Flag certification, leading to a questioning of its criteria and motives. However, some lesser-known locations gained attention for following the Blue Flag's criteria.

Success

There have been increases in the numbers of Blue Flags awarded each year. The criteria have during these years been changed to more strict criteria. As an example, in 1992 the Programme started using the restrictive guideline values in the EEC Bathing Water Directive as imperative criteria, and this was also the year where all Blue Flag criteria became the same in all participating countries.

Outside the European Union

In 2001, FEEE rules were changed to allow non-European national organizations, sharing the objectives of FEEE, to become members, and changed its name by dropping Europe from its name, becoming the Foundation for Environmental Education.
Several organizations and authorities outside the European Union have joined FEE. In 2001, South Africa and several Caribbean countries joined. FEE has been cooperating with UNEP and UNWTO on extending the Programme to areas outside Europe. South Africa, Canada, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand and four countries in the Caribbean region are members of FEE. Aruba and Brazil are currently in the pilot phase of the Programme and Jordan, Macedonia, Turks & Caicos Islands, Ukraine and United Arab Emirates have started the implementation of the Blue Flag Programme.
FEE standards allow for regional variations in beach criteria to reflect specific environmental conditions of a region. As of 2006, an international set of criteria is being used with some variations.

Extension of the award to sustainable boating tourism operators

In 2016, Blue Flag extended its programmed boat-based tourism activities like nature watching, recreational fishing, diving, and crewed charter tours. Certified tour operators have to comply with criteria regarding the sustainable operation of their boats and their business as a whole.

Present program

There are 81 countries and two US territories participating in the Blue Flag program, including Albania, Argentina, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, the United States of America, the US Virgin Islands, and Wales.

Blue Flag beach criteria

Environmental education and information

There are six criteria that Blue Flag beaches must adhere to that deal with to environmental education and information. For one, details about the Blue Flag Program must be visible. Secondly, a minimum of five environmental education events should be provided. Next, information about the water quality of the ocean must be presented. Additionally, details on the surrounding ecosystem and nearby cultural locations. Furthermore, a map that lays out the beach facilities should be exhibited. Finally, a code of conduct for the area has to be visible.

Water quality

There are five criteria Blue Flag beaches must meet regarding water quality. One is that samples must be taken according to the Blue Flag's requirements. Additionally, the beach must meet the Blue Flag's requisites for water quality. Also, no industrial or sewage waste can influence in the area. To continue, the beach must have less than a certain number of escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci. Finally, the beach has to be free of litter and pollution.

Environmental management

There are fifteen criteria that a beach must meet related to environmental management to be certified the Blue Flag. The first is that a beach oversight committee must be created to make sure all the other criteria related to environmental management are met. Next, those in charge of the beach or local area must follow the rules pertaining to administration of the beach. The third criterion is that ecologically vulnerable areas must be treated and protected. The fourth criterion is that the beach has to be kept clean. Furthermore, seaweed and other sources of natural remains should be left, but not to the point that its considered dangerous or deeply annoying. To continue, a sufficient amount of trash bins and recycling bins have to be made available to the public and be regularly attended to. The seventh criterion is that recycling bins have to be available to the public, if there is a recycling facility that can receive and separate this. The eighth criterion is that a reasonable number of restrooms should also be made available to the public. Moreover, they should be maintained, and resulting waste must be responsibly disposed of. The eleventh criterion is that dumping and camping can not be allowed on the beach. Only emergency and maintenance vehicles are allowed on the beach. The next criterion is that dogs and other pets cannot be at the beach. The thirteenth criterion is that all structures and paraphernalia should be kept in good and safe conditions. The fourteenth criterion is that local vulnerable ecosystems, such as coral reefs, have to be kept under observation. The final criterion is that a sustainable methods of transportation should be stimulated.

Safety and services

There are seven criteria dealing with safety and services that Blue Flag beaches must follow. The first is that there should be reasonable and protective safety regulation, such as providing lifeguards or life jackets. The second criterion is that first aid instruments have to be accessible. The third is that there has to be plans prepared to deal with emergency instances of pollution to the beach. The fourth criterion is that measures for respectful and responsible use of the beach for different activities such as swimming and jet skiing have to be implemented. The fifth criterion asks that means to ensure safe public use have to be in place. The sixth criterion mandates that drinking water has to be accessible at the beach. The final criterion requests that at least one Blue Flag beach in each municipality has to be made accessible for the physically disabled.