More than 150 sites were awarded the Blue Flag, the world’s leading eco-label, for the 2014 season. Awards were made in the Caribbean, South America, Africa and in the Southwest Pacific by the Blue Flag International Jury on 16 September 2014.
The award is given by the Blue Flag International Jury which meets twice a year (Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere bathing seasons) and consists of environmental specialists, as well as members of life-saving and coastal conservation organisations. This year, the International Jury was pleased to welcome a new country Trinidad and Tobago, and to award its first Blue Flag site.
Las Cuevas beach - Trinidad and Tobago
Sophie Bachet Granados, Blue Flag International Director said: “Trinidad and Tobago has done a lot of work since they started working on the implementation of the Blue Flag programme. Las Cuevas beach is the first fully compliant site in Trinidad, and I am sure, an example for all future sites in Trinidad and Tobago. We are looking forward to seeing the programme develop in the country, as I know new sites are already working to reach full compliance for their next jury in September 2015.”
Increasing numbers of awards and the quality of Blue Flag sites is really positive news, especially for those who love sunbathing, swimming or sailing. “More Blue Flag sites available for the public worldwide means more safety and services, and especially more environmental management, information and education. This is crucial as we need to ensure that the public understands the environment and what they can do to protect it,” Sophie Bachet Granados added.
The full list of awarded sites will be published on 1 November 2014 on theinternational Blue Flag website where users can also find detailed information about services and facilities for disabled people.
The next meeting of the Blue Flag International Jury will take place on 9 April 2015 to award beaches and marinas with a Northern hemisphere bathing season type (from May to December 2015).
The International Blue Flag Jury is composed of representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), International Lifesaving Federation (ILS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an Environmental Education expert, the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and FEE.
Blue Flag International also greatly appreciates the support of its sponsors: Faber Flags and Anheuser-Busch InBev.