Azores submit 42 Blue Flag applications - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas

This year, the Autonomous Region of the Azores, through its municipalities, submitted 42 applications from bathing areas to the Blue Flag Environmental Education Programme.    

The number of applications from bathing areas to the Blue Flag Programme has been consistently growing: from 31 in 2015 to 42 in 2022. This is a "positive and significant indicator for the Azores regarding the sustainable development" of their territories and the active environmental citizenship of their populations, which is due to the "commitment, perseverance and efforts of its promoters, the municipalities," highlights the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries.    

According to the Regional Secretariat, the bathing areas applying to this award are spread across five islands and 10 municipalities: two in Santa Cruz da Graciosa, three in Lagoa, Povoação and Vila Franca do Campo, four in Horta, Ribeira Grande, Povoação and Vila do Porto, five in Ponta Delgada, and seven in Angra do Heroísmo and Praia da Vitória.
    
With regard to marinas, this year's figure is the same as in 2020, i.e. five, corresponding to the marinas of Horta, Praia da Vitória, Angra do Heroísmo, Ponta Delgada and Vila do Porto.
    
Compared to last year, there are four withdrawals: Ribeira dos Pelames in the municipality of Povoação, due to a decrease in the quality of the bathing water, and the remaining ones are due to a lack of lifeguards - Sargentos in the municipality of Praia da Vitória, and Piscina do Cais and Furna de Santo António in the municipality of São Roque do Pico.
    
It should be noted that the bathing area located in Santa Cruz - Calheta in the municipality of Santa Cruz da Graciosa has rejoined the programme.    

The Blue Flag Programme is developed worldwide and it is organised in Portugal by the European Blue Flag Association (ABAE). In the Autonomous Region of the Azores, the programme is coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries, through the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs.    

The applications recently validated by the National Jury will be submitted to the International Blue Flag Jury, which will decide on their approval.
    
The official announcement of the distinguished bathing areas and marinas will be made by ABAE on April 29, 2022.    

It should be noted that the distinguished coastal bathing areas can only fly the flag if, during the inspection visit, it is confirmed that the Programme's criteria are met, such as assistance services provided by lifeguards.    

For this year, as far as environmental education in the Region is concerned, the Lagoa Blue Centre, located in the surroundings of Caloura bathing area and fishing port, will remain active. There are 93 actions planned for different target audiences.    

Each municipality will develop two activities dedicated to the annual theme - Ecosystem Recovery. It was chosen by the Blue Flag Programme for 2021 and 2022 to be in line with the strategic options of the United Nations, which declared 2021-2030 as the Decade for Ecosystem Recovery.    

The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries stresses that the goal is to accelerate the global promotion of the recovery of degraded ecosystems. This is an "essential contribution to the goals of tackling biodiversity loss, mitigating and adapting to climate change." Accordingly, the aim is to ensure a "fairer and more equitable food and water supply system."