Every year the blue flags, awarded by a private organization, spark both anticipation and debate. On one side, many Spanish coastal destinations view these distinctions as a pledge of beach quality for waters, coves, and other swimming areas. On the other side, more voices challenge the true benefits and the criteria behind the awards, asking whether blue flags deliver meaningful value and whether they align with objective parameters.
Last summer a scientific study titled The spatio-temporal evolution of blue flag beaches in the Balearic Islands 1987-2018, their improvement and the consequences of their morphological improvement was published by geographers and geologists from the Universitat de les Illes Balears and the Universitat Girona. The researchers concluded that blue flags have not improved, restored, or reversed the degradation caused by heavy coastal use. Their findings emphasize that the award, by itself, does not drive geomorphological development of beach systems with regards to sand hills and shoreline dynamics.
The work of Francesc Xavier Roig, Josep Pintó, José Àngel Martín Prieto and Antonio Rodríguez Perea analyzed 20 beaches across the Balearic Islands that hold the Blue Flag and found that this recognition does not contribute to the geomorphological evolution of the beach system. The study notes that no significant shoreline recovery or beach shape improvement followed the awarding of the flag.
There are no observable improvements tied to the Blue Flag at the beaches examined. This has led experts to rethink the usefulness of the label and consider alternative environmental accreditation criteria that better reflect the unique features of each beach instead of treating them as simple sunbathing spaces.
Where did the blue flag originate This is an award first issued by a private foundation in France in 1985. The idea spread quickly, moving from Europe to other regions. Today, in Spain, the Blue Flag is administered by the Environment and Consumer Education Association ADEAC and by the Environmental Education Foundation. Critics began questioning the criteria from the early years, arguing that the flag has become more of a recognition of amenities than of natural protection.
The central objection is that a beach can obtain a blue flag only if it is well equipped with services and infrastructure, effectively urbanizing the coast. Natural and untouched beaches face an inherent barrier to achieving the flag, even though supporters claim the award serves to defend the environment. This contradiction has been pointed out by local officials who have chosen not to pursue the award in recent summers.
No Positive Geoenvironmental Contribution
The authors from Girona and the Balearic Islands contend that the blue flag tends to drive high service provision, including leisure facilities, but it does not reliably advance geoenvironmental knowledge or the understanding of natural beach conditions. Some municipalities have chosen to abandon blue flags in favor of other recognition schemes such as EMAS or ISO certifications that may better reflect environmental performance and governance.
The mayors of Catalonia and tourism officials from the Balearic Islands have publicly criticized the program, arguing it remains largely a promotional item rather than a mark of genuine quality. A prominent local leader noted that inspections conducted on beaches with blue flags are scarce, casting doubt on the rigor behind the certification.
Biel Barceló, former vice-president of the Balearic Government, emphasized a distinction between the flag itself and overall beach quality. He also questioned the value of paying a private entity for checks that may already be completed by public authorities. The call remained for a clearer policy framework and a reassessment of how funds flow into blue flag processes.
The Organizing Entity Defends the Initiative
Ana Pérez-Montero, director of Blue Flag in Spain, explains that the program is supported by contracts, agreements, and subsidies from several ministries across autonomous communities. Municipalities and marinas in many regions participate without paying fees, while some areas cover a modest per-application cost to cover materials, personnel, and advisory services. These costs are seen as investment in program administration rather than fees for certification alone. The eligibility criteria remain strict and include a comprehensive water quality assessment and 29 criteria divided into four categories: water quality, information and environmental education, beach environmental management including coastline regulations, waste management, the presence of toilets, safety, lifeguard readiness, and accessibility for people with disabilities.
The program does not exclude beaches that are not pristine. It upholds a threshold where a beach must be accessible and maintain basic sanitary and safety infrastructure. The presence of public toilets, lifeguard posts, and accessible facilities is expected in many cases, but some elements such as showers or hammocks are not mandatory.
On the topic of evolving criteria, the organizing body maintains that the framework favors continuous improvement. Some measures are implemented gradually with deadlines and commitments, allowing a beach to achieve a blue flag while addressing minor coastal code violations in the hope of full compliance in the following year. The aim is steady progress rather than instantaneous perfection.
For the current edition the program also introduced a focus on coastal defense, advising municipalities to identify habitats that benefit dune restoration and seagrass protection. They were encouraged to begin fencing dunes, identify related infrastructures, and start removal processes where needed. The objective is to raise the conservation status of priority dune habitats through a carefully staged approach that benefits coastal ecosystems over time.
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