EnviroKids 38 Marine & Blue Flag Summer 2017

BLUE FLAG Flying the

This world-famous eco-label is being raised all along South Africa’s coastline and we decided to learn more about it…

Blue Flag is an international award that is given each year to beaches, eco-tourism boats and marinas (or small harbours) that are well run and care for their natural environment. If this blue flag is flying, then you know that the beach, boat or marina meets the highest standards of safety, cleanliness, water Tuality and environmental education – it has attended all its classes, done its homework, and aced its exams!

Blue Flag timeline The Blue Flag programme has been running internationally for 30 years. 1985: French coastal municipalities are awarded a ³blue flag´ if they pass tests for good sewage treatment and Tuality swimming water. 1987: Programme is adopted across Europe.

“Clean water, healthy coasts, safety, and access for all”

2001: Programme is opened to non-European countries. South Africa joins! DiD you know? South Africa has almost

Blue Flag in South Africa The programme is managed internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). In each member country, a local organisation is chosen to run the programme ‘on the ground¶. In South Africa, the %lue Flag programme is run by WESSA in partnership with coastal municipalities .

60 full Blue Flag sites (see our map on page 6 , as well as more than 20 pilot sites – this means they are preparing for their Blue Flag status.

Photos supplied. Hermit crab artwork: Jacci Rudling

4 EnviroKids Vol. 38(4), Summer 2017