The ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF&CC) has recommended eight beaches of the country for the coveted ‘Blue Flag’ international eco-label. 

The eight beaches recommended are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman and Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden Beach in Odisha and Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The recommendations are done by an independent national jury composed of eminent environmentalists and scientists. ‘Blue Flag’ beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world.

What is Blue Flag?

The ‘Blue Flag’ is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators. The programme is operated under the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

The Blue Flag programme started in France in 1985 and has been implemented in Europe since 1987, and in areas outside Europe since 2001, when South Africa joined.

The mission is to promote sustainability in the tourism sector, through environmental education, environmental protection and other sustainable development practices.

The eco-label is accorded based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads — environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environment management and conservation and safety and services in the beaches. 

The ‘Blue Flag’ beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists/beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.

India launches BEAMS eco-label

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar announced India’s own eco-label ‘Beach Environment and Aesthetics Management Services’ (BEAMS) under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project.

BEAMS is one of the several other projects of ICZM that the central government is undertaking for sustainable development of coastal regions, striving for the ‘Blue Flag’.  

Objectives of BEAMS: 

* Abate pollution in coastal waters.

* Promote sustainable development of beach facilities.

* Protect and conserve coastal ecosystems and natural resources. 

* Challenge local authorities and stakeholders to strive and maintain high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and safety for beachgoers in accordance with coastal environment and regulations. 

The concept of ICZM was introduced in 1992 during the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro. Many countries have been adopting ICZM principles for managing their coastal zones. Adoption of ICZM principles for managing and sustainably developing coastal regions helps India in keeping with its commitments to international agreements on ICZM.

International Coastal Cleanup Day

International Coastal Cleanup Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of September. 

It was started in 1986, when Linda Maraniss moved to Texas from Washington, DC, where she had been working for Ocean Conservancy. She was inspired by her  colleague Kathy O’Hara, who was working on a report called Plastics in the Ocean: More than a Litter Problem. 

The two of them reached out to other ocean lovers and organised a cleanup for ocean conservancy. Around 2,800 volunteers took part in the first cleanup. Over the years, the cleanup has grown into an international event in more than 100 countries.

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