Blue Flag Criteria for Beaches 29 Criteria covering the following areas: Environmental Education and Information Water Quality Environmental Management Safety And Services

Environmental Education and Information

1. Information relating to coastal zone ecosystems and natural, sensitive areas in the coastal zone must be displayed. (I)
2. Information about bathing water quality must be displayed. (I)
3. Information about the Blue Flag Programme must be displayed. (I)
4. Code of conduct for the beach area must be displayed and the laws governing beach use must be easily available to the public upon request. (I)
5. A minimum of 5 environmental education activities must be offered. (I)

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Water Quality

6. Compliance with the requirements and standards for excellent bathing water quality. (I)
7. No industrial or sewage related discharges may affect the beach area. (I)
8. Monitoring on the health of coral reefs located in the vicinity of the beach. (NA to Ireland)
9. Compliance of the community with requirements for sewage treatment and effluent quality. (G)
10. Algae or other vegetation should be left to decay on the beach unless it constitutes a nuisance. (I)

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Environmental Management

11. A beach management committee must be established to be in charge of instituting environmental management systems and conducting regular environmental audits of the beach facility. (G)
12. The beach must comply with all regulations affecting the location and operation of the beach (coastal zone planning and environmental legislation). (I)
13. The beach must be clean. (I)
14. Waste disposal bins/receptacles must be available on/by the beach in adequate numbers, regularly maintained and emptied. (I)
15. Facilities for receiving recyclable waste materials must be available on/by the beach. (I)
16. Adequate and clean sanitary facilities with controlled sewage disposal. (I)
17. On the beach there will be no unauthorised camping or driving and no dumping. (I)
18. Regulation concerning dogs and other domestic animals on the beach must be strictly enforced. (I)
19. All buildings and equipment of the beach must be properly maintained. (I)
20. Sustainable means of transportation must be promoted in the beach area. (G)

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Safety And Services

21. An adequate number of lifeguards and/or lifesaving equipment must be available at the beach. (I)
22. First aid equipment must be available on the beach. (I)
23. There must be management of different users and uses of the beach so as to prevent conflicts and accidents. (I)
24. Emergency plans to cope with pollution safety risks must be in place. (I)
25. There must be safe access to the beach. (I)
26. The beach area must be patrolled area. (NA)
27. A supply of potable drinking water must be available on the beach area. (G)
28. A minimum of one Blue Flag beach in each municipality must have access and toilet facilities provided for disabled persons. (I)
29. Map of the beach indicating different facilities must be displayed. (I)

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Legend:

I means Imperative and obligatory.
G means Guideline and to be aspired to.
NA means that it is not applicable to Europe.

Please consult the Blue Flag Guidance Notes for more details

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The International Blue Flag Jury reserves the right to refuse the Blue Flag to beaches in communities where the authorities are responsible for current violations of environmental regulations or otherwise act or follow conditions contradictory to the objectives and the spirit of the Blue Flag Programme.

For more information about the Blue Flag Awards, please contact:

Lucy Hunt, Blue Flag Manager,
An Taisce, 5A Swift’s Alley, Francis Street, Dublin 8
Tel: 01 400 2210 Fax: 01 400 2285 E-mail: blueflag@antaisce.org