Blue Flag Beaches - The Symbol for Clean Beaches

Written by Kai Abreu

My first trip to the beach after graduating from swim lessons, I ended up drinking more seawater than doing any actual swimming. Despite my incredible ability to doggy paddle at the young age of five, the push and pull of waves took me by surprise. In between gasping breaths, stumbling on rocks, and the water-muffled yells from my mom as she yanked me out of the water, I remember watching the wind buffet around a blue flag tucked next to the lifeguard stand. I didn’t know what it meant, but as someone who’s had an affinity for anything blue since forever, I thought it was cool. Now, a couple decades later, and still a rather ungraceful swimmer, I look back and I thank my lucky stars that at least the many litres of saltwater I consumed that day were from a Blue Flag Beach. 

You’ve likely seen this flag somewhere - the bold blue square with a white wave in the middle and the apropos name “Blue Flag” underneath dots beaches across the globe. What does that mean, though? What does the symbol stand for? In the next couple of minutes, you’ll learn all about this international accreditation, why it’s your not-so-secret weapon to finding the world’s safest and most beautiful beaches, and how you can get involved in the movement!

“What does Swim Drink Fish have to do with a flag, though?” I hear you thinking (maybe). Unfortunately, my pleas to design a Swim Drink Fish flag have gone unheard, but Swim Drink Fish does operate the Canadian branch of the Blue Flag program. With over twenty years of commitment to making the world’s waters more swimmable, drinkable, and fishable, the partnership between Swim Drink Fish and Blue Flag makes as much sense as sunscreen and sunshine. 

Photo courtesy of Kamil Kalbarczyk

Never Lower Your Standards 

While the principle applies, I am not talking about your standards on dating apps. I’m talking about the series of intense environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria that beaches, marinas, and sustainable tourism boats need to meet to be awarded Blue Flag status. The assessment requirements include water quality (with frequent bacterial testing), environmental management (including waste disposal and conservation programs), safety services (qualified lifeguards and first aid), and environmental education (information about local ecosystems and conservation efforts). See why I’m really glad that beach from earlier had a fancy blue flag?

Run by the Foundation for Environmental Education, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, this prestigious award comes with great responsibility. While owners/operators enjoy the right to display the beautiful blue flag if awarded, they must accept the responsibility of keeping those standards high. The Blue Flag status isn’t a one-and-done deal. To keep that cool Blue Flag, owners/operators need to continually meet the program’s rigorous requirements. You know what? That also applies to dating. 

In short, when you see that iconic blue flag, you can rest assured that the water you are swimming in meets the highest cleanliness and safety standards out there. Furthermore, you’re standing in a place where people truly believe that all humans have a right to clean, healthy waters, and that it’s our shared responsibility to protect them. 

Photo courtesy of Filipe Nobre

Beach Day Bestie 

Let’s say summer arrives, the Kenergy is flying high, and you feel the urge to “just be beach”, but where to find one of these beautiful Blue Flag beaches? You can check out the map provided by Blue Flag which includes over 5,000 beaches across 51 countries! You’ll note that Blue Flag standard is only guaranteed during the Blue Flag season, so make sure the info is up to date when you check the site. 

However, and here comes my shameless plug, you can also check the Swim Guide by Swim Drink Fish. Available as a website or as a downloadable app, the Swim Guide is your pocket beach-finding bestie. Using the map, you can see Blue Flag beaches near you (hint, hint - we have some in Toronto), and you can also find safe, healthy beaches with information on their water safety levels. Listen, not everyone can be a perfect Blue Flag beach, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t swim-worthy waters near you. Check it out, grab your favourite people and sunscreen, and get on the water! 

Dive Into the Mission!  

At Swim Drink Fish, we believe that connecting with the waters we love gives us the best shot at protecting them. Connection equals protection, which is why we have devoted twenty years (that might be more than the age of some of you out there reading this) to making our waters clean, healthy, and safe. We strive to make everyone’s future more swimmable, drinkable, and fishable – and that starts with you! So, get on the water and sign up for our newsletter to learn more about our mission!