On 26 September 2007, the International Blue Flag Jury decided on the Blue Flag candididate beaches and marinas in the Southern Hemisphere and the Caribbean.
The International Blue Flag Jury had its second annual meeting on 26 September 2007 to decide on the Blue Flag candidates from the Southern Hemisphere and the Caribbean for the 2007/2008 season. The International Jury decided to award the Blue Flag to 47 beaches and 7 marinas in Bahamas, French Departments and Territories, Jamaica, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and South Africa. The International Jury also extended the pilot phase and gave the Blue Flag Certificate to one beach in Chile and to 10 beaches in Brazil as a step toward achieving full Blue Flag status. Moreover, Aruba was awarded the Blue Flag Certificate for the first time. Detailed information about the 2007 awards for the Southern Hemisphere and the Caribbean will be published on the Blue Flag website www.blueflag.org from 1 November.
The Blue Flag marina candidates were evaluated in detail to ensure compliance with the criteria concerning the recyclable waste facilities in the marina, the presence of a map indicating all required facilities, lifesaving equipment and the posting of safety precautions in the marina. The beach candidates were evaluated in detail to ensure the presence of a map indicating all required facilities and compliance with the water quality criterion including the sampling frequency. Those beaches with a coral reef in the vicinity were additionally asked to deliver their coral reef monitoring results. Also evaluated this year were the composition of the national juries, the outcome of control visits in 2006/2007 and the planning of control visits for 2007/2008.
The International Jury is composed of representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), International Lifesaving Federation (ILS), the World Conservation Union (IUCN), an international Environmental Education expert, the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
At the next International Jury meeting in April 2008, the outcome of the evaluation of Blue Flag candidate beaches and marinas from Europe, Morocco, Tunisia and Canada will be presented. The Blue Flag programme is looking forward to working with new countries that have shown interest in the programme.
Blue Flag • Scandiagade 13 • DK-2450 Copenhagen SV • Denmark
Tel: +45 33 28 04 09 • coordination@blueflag.org