- The Blue Flag is awarded annually by an international tribunal of the Foundation for Environmental Education in collaboration with the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education (ADEAC).
- Environmental management and safety, facilities and optimal provision of services, information and environmental education are valued and rewarded.
Catalonia counts 119 blue flags in 2021, which internationally recognize the quality of beaches and marinas, as announced by the Association of Environmental Education and Consumer (ADEAC).
97 awarded beaches
Specifically, this year the international jury Blue Flag 2021 has distinguished 97 beaches, 26 of which in the demarcation of Girona, 31 in Barcelona, 29 in Tarragona and 11 in the Terres de l'Ebre. This amounts represents 2 more beaches in addition to the previous year.
22 marinas with flag
As for marinas, 22 have been distinguished, one less than last year. Of the total, 8 are located in Girona, 8 in Barcelona, 4 in Tarragona and 2 in Terres de l'Ebre.
22 ports were presented to obtain the award (one less than last year) and all of them have been awarded. Port Olímpic and Marina Palamós did not present themselves, and L'Estartit has presented a new candidacy (it had not been submitted since 2015).
An internationally recognized award
This internationally recognized award values and rewards environmental management and safety, facilities and optimal provision of services, and environmental information and education. It also requires beaches to have excellent water quality and ports to have excellent environmental management.
The achievement of this rating is the result of the management measures in the bathing areas, the improvements in the sanitation systems implemented in the coastal townships and the control and inspection measures of the water resources environment.