The preeminent global beach ecolabel “Blue Flag” is a much-coveted status to which any country with a coastline aspires. Developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education in 1985, the trademark banner is now hoisted over lifeguard stands at over 4,000 beaches and 700 marinas spread across 50 nations in Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Pacific, and the Caribbean.
Earning the designation entails adherence to a stringent set of criteria: bathing water quality; hygiene and safety; development and management; and environmental awareness, education and information transparency. Unannounced visits and inspections are conducted in order to ensure compliance and to obtain data which are not skewed.
In December, 2022, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection–in conjunction with the General Directorate for Local Authorities–hosted a convention to assist local authorities with organizing and compiling applications from various Moroccan municipalities. With the newly released 2023 rankings, Morocco can be proud.
The Foundation has announced that the Blue Flag will be raised at 27 Moroccan beaches this summer, along with three marinas. A total of 47 beaches in the Kingdom applied for the status, rendering a success rate well in excess of 50%. Relative to its neighbors, the numbers are even more impressive: It ranks as the country with the highest number of Blue Flags in the Arab world, and second most in Africa.
As Morocco is already a Continental leader in environmental management and green technology, the numbers should not surprise. Rather, they should entice those fed up with the undoubtedly hotter-than-statistically-average summer coming our way to take a dip in nature’s bounty, from Arkemane to Oum Labouir and all points in between.