The Blue flag award for Croatian Beaches and Marinas

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The Blue Flag, an international label signifying a clean environment and a high level of development and facilities, has been awarded to 115 Croatian beaches and 20 marinas.

Apart from seaside beaches, blue flags are fluttering on seven continental beaches this year: the Aquacity beach near Varaždin and beaches of the sports and recreational centre Jarun in Zagreb.

The criteria for awarding the Blue Flag for beaches are high water quality, the regular measurement of the water quality and availability of data about it, the existence of rules of conduct and educational programs, the safety of swimmers and insurance of measures aimed at preventing or reacting to cases of ecological disasters. The beaches also need to have access to drinking water, and at least one beach within a city or municipality needs to ensure access to the beach and sanitation facilities for the disabled.

The criteria for awarding the Blue Flag to marinas have been specially devised, and they include protection of the environment, high-level development and facilities, educational programs and sanitation facilities.

The Blue Flag Programme is owned and run by the Copenhagen-based independent non-profit organisation Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).