The Blue Flag

This marina has been awarded a Blue Flag. The Blue Flag is an environmental award, given to marinas making a special effort concerning good management with respect to the local environment and nature, and providing users with information on environmental issues. To attain the Blue Flag, the marina has to fulfil a number of criteria concerning environmental information and education, environmental management, safety and service facilities, and water quality.

The Blue Flag is awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a nongovernmental environmental organisation and is represented by national organisations in each of the participating countries in Europe, the Caribbean, New Zealand and South Africa. Along with the Blue Flag, FEE also develops another eco-label for accommodations: Green Key. Find more information at: www.green-key.org

The Blue Flag is an environmental award for beaches and marinas, concerned with four main areas:

                1) Environmental education and information

                2) Environmental management

                3) Safety and service facilities

                4) Water quality

The Blue Flag is only awarded for one season at a time and the award is only valid as long as the criteria are fulfilled. When this is not the case, the persons responsible at local level must remove the Blue Flag

The national FEE organisation checks the Blue Flag sites during the season.

You can help the programme by also taking actions to protect the environment:

– Follow instructions of the code of environmental conduct at the marina
– Use the most environmentally friendly products for paints, detergents, etc.
– Report any pollution or other violation of environmental regulations to the authorities
– Save water, electricity and fuel
– Encourage other sailors to take care of the environment

DEFINITION OF A BLUE FLAG MARINA

A Blue Flag marina must be a marina with pontoons or piers for pleasure boats. It can be part of a larger harbour with other activities, if the Blue Flag marina is clearly separated from harbour activities. The marina can be located in marine or inland waters. The marina must have the necessary facilities to comply with the Blue Flag criteria. A responsible person in the marina must be appointed to deal with the relations to the Blue Flag Campaign. The marina must be accessible for unannounced inspection by FEE.

These are the contacts for the national and international bodies responsible for Blue Flag. You can assist the Programme by telling either the local or national responsible body how well you think this place meets Blue Flag criteria. In this way you can help ensure that the Blue Flag standard continues.

BLUE FLAG FOR BOATS

Puerto Calero supports the Blue Flag for Boats campaign, working with boat owners to comply with the Environmental Code of Conduct and contribute to Environmental Education programmes.

The small individual Blue Flag can be awarded to interested boat owners/users wanting to contribute to the Blue Flag Campaign. The boat owner signs an environmental code of conduct declaring that he/she will act according the issues outlined below in the code of conduct.

Blue Flag for Boat’s Environmental Code of Conduct

I will not allow rubbish to go overboard.

I will make use of a holding tank on board and not release toilet waste into coastal waters and sensitive areas.

I will not release poisonous or toxic waste (oil, paint, used batteries, cleaning agents, etc) in the sea. I will dispose of these types of waste in the appropriate marina container.

I will promote and use recycling facilities for everyday waste (glass, paper, etc).

I will safely dispose of batteries and waste generated by maintenance: antifouling, oil, etc.

I will use the most environmentally-friendly and efficient products available.

I will instantly report pollution or other violation of environmental regulations to the authorities.

I will not engage in forbidden fishing practices and I will respect periods when fishing is prohibited.

I will navigate with care and protect animals and plants in the sea, including no disturbance of breeding birds, seals or other marine mammals.

I will respect sensitive and nature-protected areas.

I will choose anchoring sites carefully so as not to harm delicate sea-bed ecosystems

I will avoid disturbing fishery or fishing gear.

I will not buy or use objects made from protected species or from archaeological underwater findings.

I will encourage other boaters to take care of the environment.

For more details about the Blue Flag for Boats and related projects please consult the national Blue Flag representative or ask in the Marina Office.