Catalonia awarded 90 blue flags for its clean and safe beaches, 3 more than last year

Madrid (ACN).- Catalonia has increased its collection of blue flags, adding 3 more recognitions for its beaches, according to a press release from the Environmental and Consumer Education Association of Spain (ADEAC) issued on Thursday. 90 Catalan beaches have received this top distinction, as well as 24 marinas. In 2012, 87 beaches and 24 marinas were awarded. The blue flags are an ecological label for beaches and ports based on 32 criteria. They recognise the cleanness, safety, accessibility, environmental management and services provided at beaches and marinas. They are awarded every year by the ADEAC and the independent and non-profit organisation Foundation for Environmental Education, in collaboration with the United Nations Agencies for the Environment and Tourism. Spain has obtained a total of 648 blue flags: 551 recognising beaches and 97 for marinas. It means 11 more flags for beaches and 1 less for marinas than last year. It is the highest number of blue flags obtained ever by Spain or any other country. For another year, Spain tops the international ranking with 48 countries and 51 territories participating in the list. Spain is followed by Greece (393), France (365), Portugal (280), Italy (248) and Denmark (243). Regarding the number of marinas, Spain comes second after Germany, which has 108. Catalonia is the 3^rd Autonomous Community with the highest number of blue flags in Spain recognising the quality of the beaches, after Galicia and the Valencia Community (also called Valencian Country). The Costa Brava has 28 blue flags, the Costa Daurada and the Ebro Delta have 38 and the beaches of the central Catalan coast – near Barcelona or even in the city – have 24 flags. According to ADEAC’s President, José Ramón Sánchez, Catalan beaches are in “good health”. He also thought that tourists will have a positive welcome in the summer and they will see that “Catalans are concerned about their natural and rural heritage”, as well as making it “accessible”.

The blue flag criteria

There are 32 criteria for a blue flag to be awarded, and they include: free access to the beach and it being managed as a public space, displaying clear and concise information, promoting health habits, being 100% in line with environmental and coastline legislation, having good quality sand, clean water, and a lifeguard service with at least two people. This last element prevents paradise beaches from small villages from being included in the prestigious list, as they lack the money to hire two lifeguards.

82.16 km of blue flagged beaches

Catalonia is the third Autonomous Community with the highest number of blue flags for its beaches with 90 distinctions after Galicia (128) and the Valencian Country (114), and before Andalusia (78). In total Catalonia has 82.16 kilometres of blue flagged beaches. In total there are 551 blue flags on Spanish beaches.

Furthermore, there are 97 additional distinctions for marinas in Spain. Catalonia has 90 flags. 8 are in the Costa Brava, in the Province of Girona (north-eastern Catalonia). 9 are in the Province of Barcelona (central coast) and 7 – one less than last year – are in the Costa Daurada and the Ebro Delta, in the Province of Tarragon (southern coast).

38 beaches in the Costa Daurada and Ebro Delta

The 38 beaches in the Tarragona Province are: Cunit, Segur de Calafell, L'estany-Mas Mel in Calafell; Coma-ruga and Francàs in Vendrell; Roda de Barà and Costa Daurada in Roda de Barà; la Paella, Barri Marítim and Es Muntanyans in Torredembarra; Altafulla; La Mora, Arrabassada, la Savinosa and Tamarit in Tarragona; la Pineda in Vilaseca; Llevant and Capellans, in Salou; Vilafortuny, Esquirol, Cavet and Prat d'en Forés, in Cambrils; Cristall and Pixerota in Montroig del Camp; La Punta del Riu, l'Arenal and Torn in Vandellòs and l'Hospitalet de l'Infant; Sant Jordi d'Alfama, Cala Forn, Pixavaques, l'Alguer and Calafató in l'Ametlla de Mar; Caproig and Avellaners in l'Ampolla; Parc del Garbí and les Delícies in Sant Carles de la Ràpita; and les Cases d'Alcanar in Alcanar. Furthermore, Riumar in Deltebre is newly added to the list.

28 distinctions in the Costa Brava

The 28 beaches with a blue flag this summer in the Province of Girona are: Platja Gran in Portbou; Gifreu and Port in Llançà; Port de la Selva’s beach; Empuriabrava in Castelló d'Empúries; Cala Montgó in Torroella de Montgrí; Tamariu, Canadell and Llafranc in Palafrugell; la Fosca in Palamós; Es Monestrí, Torre Valentina, Sant Antoni and Cala Cristus- Ses Torretes in Sant Antoni de Calonge; Cala Rovira, Platja d'Aro and Sa Conca in Castell-Platja d'Aro; Sant Feliu and Sant Pol in Sant Feliu de Guíxols; la Mar Menuda and Gran de Tossa in Tossa de Mar; Lloret, Fenals, Sa Boadella and Santa Cristina in Lloret de Mar; and, finally, Blanes, Sabanell and Sant Francesc in Blanes.

24 beaches have been awarded in the Province of Barcelona

The 24 beaches of Catalonia’s central coast with blue flags are: Malgrat and Del Astillero in Malgrat de Mar; Sant Pol in Sant Pol de Mar; la Pineda in Pineda de Mar; Garbí and Gran de Calella in Calella; Canet in Canet de Mar; Dels Tres Micos in Caldes d'Estrac; Dels Pescadors, Cristall and Del Coco in Badalona; Llevant, Nova Mar Bella, Mar Bella, Bogatell, Nova Icària, La Barceloneta, Somorrostro and Sant Sebastià in Barcelona; Castelldefels’ beach in Castelldefels; Del Prat in Prat del Llobregat; Gavà Mar in Gavà; Ribes-Roges and d'Adarró in Vilanova i la Geltrú; and la Llarga in Cubelles.

24 marinas have also been awarded

The 24 Catalan marinas awarded are: Club Nàutic of Llançà; Club Nàutic Port de la Selva; Port Esportiu of Roses; Club Nàutic l'Escala; Club Nàutic l'Estartit-Torroella de Montgrí; Port Esportiu Marina of Palamós; Club Nàutic Port d'Aro; and Aigua Blava in Begur, all in the Costa Brava. In Tarragona they are: the Port of Segur de Calafell; Port of Torredembarra; Port Esportiu of Salou; Club Nàutic Cambrils; Port Esportiu of l'Hospitalet de l'Infant and Vandellòs; Club Nàutic l'Ametlla de Mar; and Club Nàutic l'Ampolla. Finally, in Barcelona, they are: Club Nàutic el Balís-Sant Andreu de Llavaneres; Consorci Port Mataró; Marina Badalona; Marina Port Vell-Barcelona; Port Olímpic of Barcelona; Port Ginesta-Castelldefels; Club Nàutic Garraf-Sitges; Port Esportiu Aiguadolç- Sitges; and Club Nàutic Vilanova.