FORTY-NINE beaches across the island have applied for a Blue Flag, the stamp of approval by the European beach regulator, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
Last year, Cyprus had 48 Blue Flag beaches, which met the 27 different criteria needed to fly the EU quality symbol.
Michael Ierides, spokesman for the Cyprus Marine Environmental Protection Association (CYMEPA), told the Mail that, “our national jury is this week visiting the sites in order to assess applications, with the results submitted to the international jury by the end of the month. We should be in a position to announce this year’s list of Blue Flag spots by the beginning of May.
He explained that what was most important was that the main condition – clean bathing water – had been passed on to the government since Cyprus joined the EU.
CYMEPA had been responsible for checking on all 27 criteria for the Blue Flag beaches since the scheme was introduced in Cyprus in 1995. He said that during the bathing season, water samples have to be taken every two weeks.
“This is now the government’s obligation,” he said, adding that the responsibility was not just to check the Blue Flag beaches, but all bathing areas. “We have been fighting an uphill battle for many years and now if the government does not do it they will be fined by the EU.”
CYMEPA still has the responsibility to check on the other 26 criteria, which include, beach area management, safety and environmental education and information.
CYMEPA acts with a number of other organisations and services as local jury for the Blue Flag campaign. They make recommendations to the international jury, which has the final say.
“We make a first inspection and propose beaches to the international jury, who come and do spot checks once a year. We don’t have the final say, but we make the recommendations and 90 per cent of the time they listen to us,” said Ierides.
The Blue Flag awards provide an incentive for local authorities to maintain beaches and upgrade their quality every year and also contribute to the promotion of Cypriot beaches abroad. Foreign tour operators often specifically ask if an area has a Blue Flag.
The Blue Flag is an exclusive eco-label awarded to around 3,100 beaches and marinas in 35 countries across Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada and the Caribbean last year.
Ierides said that compared to other countries, “Cyprus comes out near the top of the list if we take into account the amount of coastline and number of inhabitants.”
