The 2024 Blue Flags awarded by the Fee (Foundation for Environmental Education) are twenty-five, one more than last year. New entry in Calabria Parghelia (Costa dei Monaci/Bordila, La Grazia/Vardano, Michelino, La Tonnara) in the province of Vibo Valentia which joins the reconfirmed Tropea (Marina del Convento, Marina dell’Isola, Rocca Nettuno). In the province of Cosenza, the recognition went to Tortora (La Pineta/Fiume Noce), Praia a Mare (Camping Internazionale/Punta Fiuzzi), San Nicola Arcella (Arcomagno/Canale Grande Marinella), Santa Maria del Cedro (Iron Barge – Abatemarco ), Diamante (Cirella, Scogliera Cirella, Pietrarossa), Rocca Imperiale (Marina di Rocca Imperiale), Roseto Capo Spulico (Lungomare), Trebisacce – Lungomare Sud (Riviera dei Saraceni – Viale Magna Grecia), Villapiana (Villapiana Scalo, Villapiana Lido) ; in the province of Crotone Blue Flag in Cirò Marina (Punta Alice, Cervara/Madonna di Mare), Melissa (Torre Melissa coast), Isola Capo Rizzuto (Le Castella); in the province of Catanzaro recognition to Sellia Marina (Location Ruggero/San Vincenzo – Sena/Jonio – Rivachiara), Catanzaro (Giovino), Soverato (Baia Dell’Ippocampo); in the province of Reggio Calabria Blue Flag in Caulonia (Lido), Roccella Ionica (Lido), Siderno (Coast). There are two Blue Flag 2024 landing places: the Porto delle Grazie in Roccella Jonica, in the province of Reggio Calabria and the tourist dock of the Port of Cetraro, in the province of Cosenza.
The 2024 Blue Flags were assigned by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to coastal municipalities and tourist ports and announced this morning in the presence of the mayors, during the awards ceremony held in Rome at the CNR headquarters, for the thirty-eighth edition . The Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policies Nello Musumeci spoke.
In the evaluation phase carried out by the Commission according to a rigid procedural scheme, various institutional bodies including the Ministry of Tourism gave their contribution; the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry; the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security; the Istituto Superiore di Sanità; the Orders of Chemists and Physicists; the National Research Council; universities such as the University of Tuscia – Laboratory of Marine Ecology and the University for Foreigners of Perugia; as well as private bodies such as the Seaside Unions (SIB-Confcommercio – FIBA – Confesercenti).
The subsequent approval by the international jury led to the achievement of the final result.
During the event, awards were given to those locations whose bathing waters have been found to be excellent in the last 4 years, as established by the results of the analyzes that, over the last four years, the ARPA (Regional Agencies for Environmental Protection) have carried out. carried out as part of the National Monitoring Programme, conducted by the Ministry of Health. The Municipalities were able to present these results directly, as there is full correspondence between what was requested by the FEE and what was carried out by the ARPA, in terms of number of samplings and microbiological indicators measured.
The 32 criteria of the program are updated periodically in order to push the participating local administrations to commit to solving, and improving over time, the problems relating to land management in order to carefully safeguard the environment.
Great importance is given to the management of the territory implemented by the municipal administrations. Among the indicators considered are: the existence and degree of functionality of purification plants; the percentage of sewer connections; waste management; accessibility; the safety of swimmers; the care of street furniture and beaches; sustainable mobility; environmental education; the valorisation of naturalistic areas; the initiatives promoted by the Administrations for better liveability in the summer period. Furthermore, we must not forget the awareness-raising action undertaken so that the Municipalities carry out a process of certification of their institutional activities and the tourist facilities that exist in their territory.
Let us remember what the imperative and guiding criteria are for the awarding of the Blue Flag: absolute validity of bathing waters according to more restrictive rules than those provided for by national legislation on bathing (only those classified as “excellent” in the last four years); regular water sampling carried out during the summer season; these criteria are imperative and only if respected can you access subsequent assessments; efficiency of waste water purification and the connected sewerage network of at least 80% throughout the municipal territory; separate waste collection, correct management of hazardous waste; vast pedestrian areas, cycle paths, well-kept street furniture, green areas; beaches equipped with all services and lifeguard personnel, accessibility for all (removal of architectural barriers); large space dedicated to environmental education courses, aimed in particular at schools and young people, tourists and residents; dissemination of information on Blue Flag, publication of data on bathing water; hotel facilities, public health services, tourist information, updated signage; environmental certification and/or procedures of institutional activities and tourist facilities present in the municipal area; presence of fishing activities well integrated into the context of the seaside location.
