The Alvôco das Várzeas River Beach has just been recommended by the ABAE (European Blue Flag Association) to the International Jury of the Blue Flag Programme 2015, having been awarded the Blue Flag award for the first time in 2014.

This decision was unanimously approved last month by the National Jury of the certified Blue Flag Programme. The Alvôco das Várzeas river beach meets all the criteria and good practice imposed by the ABAE related to the quality of information, environmental education activities, environmental codes of conduct, and water quality.

CERTIFIED BLUE FLAG BEACH AWARD

The Blue Flag is a symbol of environmental quality awarded annually to beaches, recreational ports, and marinas that meet certain criteria. The certified Blue Flag beach Programme Criteria are divided into 4 groups:
• Information and Environmental Education;
• Water Quality;
• Environmental Management and Infrastructure;
• Security and Services.

The Blue Flag Association makes an assessment at the beginning of the swimming season, monitoring throughout the summer to establish compliance with the requirements.

CERTIFIED BLUE FLAG BEACH CAMPAIGN

The European Blue Flag Campaign started on a European scale in 1987 as part of the European Year of the Environment. This initiative of the FEE, with the support of the European Commission, aims to raise awareness among citizens in general and decision-makers in particular for the need to protect the marine and coastal environment and to encourage action to address its problems.

The Campaign has three strands: beaches, marinas, and recreational ships, with the European certified Blue Flag beach award as its instrument. The award is given annually to beaches and marinas that meet a set of environmental criteria, ensure the safety and comfort of their visitors, and disseminate environmental information and awareness. Internationally, the European Blue Flag is recognised as an ecological certificate by the European Commission and the United Nations Environment Programme, and negotiations are underway for its adoption by countries on other continents. The operational structure of the Campaign in Portugal, as well as its decision-making process, is based on collaboration between public and private bodies with responsibilities or interests in beaches.

There is the “Portuguese Jury of Blue Flag beaches - JBAP”, which establishes the specific rules of the Campaign at a national level, transposing the European procedures and criteria and supporting the National Operator in defining the Portuguese position in international meetings. The JBAP is made up of a group of 21 entities from the Central and Regional Public Administration, as well as non-governmental organisations, and is coordinated by ABAE. Applications for beaches are presented annually by local authorities to the Regional Directorates for the Environment, nominated by more than one entity of local and regional scope.

At this level, an initial verification of compliance with the criteria of the Blue Flag beach award is carried out by the Regional Directorates for the Environment, after which the applications are sent to the National Operator. Subsequently, the JBAP as National Jury evaluates and approves the list of beaches to be submitted to the International Jury, composed of elements from the FEE and a representative of the European Commission, which makes the final decision on the certified beaches and marinas.

The JBAP, with its informal nature, has been a good example of cooperation between public bodies and NGOs aimed at preserving and enhancing the coastline, where each entity has a specific area of expertise. Among the various initiatives of the ABAE, in the sense of pursuing the objectives of the Campaign, we highlight the integration in the ENVIREG Programme, for the eligibility of investments with a view to maintaining or obtaining the Blue Flag certificate.

In Portugal, the improvement of beaches since 1987 is well known. It is fundamentally based on investments to solve the causes of water pollution, on the expansion of the water quality surveillance network, on the improvement of accesses and infrastructures, on the safety and cleanliness of beaches, and on user information and awareness. ABAE’s performance in the role of National Operator has been considered exemplary and prestigious for Portugal, with positive repercussions for national tourism. The respect that ABAE has amassed has allowed it to defend with great credibility the specific interests of Portugal, particularly within the FEE. As a demonstration of the recognition of the work developed in Portugal,ABAE was invited by FEE to present the certified Blue Flag beach award in Portugal at the 1997 Berlin International Tourism Fair (ITB).