In 1985, the Blue Flag initiative began in France. It was a pilot effort by Europe’s Office of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Coastal municipalities had the quality of their sewage management and bathing water assessed. That first year, 11 municipalities were awarded the Blue Flag. Forty years later, this not-for-profit organization can be found in 81 countries. They now review and certify beaches, marinas and tourism boats. As of 2025, 5161 Blue Flags have been presented. Here is a list of the main criteria they consider when evaluating an entrant:
environmental education & information
water quality
environmental management
safety and services
social responsibility
responsible tourism
Spain leads the way with 747 awarded sites. In Canada, 17 beaches and 9 marinas have been recognized. You can learn more about the Canadian program here.