The Viana do Castelo City Council welcomed, this Thursday, the awarding of the Blue Flag to 11 beaches in the municipality, one more than in the previous year. Amorosa Sul beach was the new addition.
Thus, the award-winning beaches in Viana do Castelo are: Ínsua, Afife, Arda, Paçô, Carreço, Norte, Cabedelo, Luziamar, Amorosa Norte, Amorosa Sul and Castelo do Neiva.
“The novelty is the award given to Amorosa Sul beach, a commitment from the Municipality, which decided to nominate this beach again, continuing the objective of progressively increasing the quality and distinction of the various beaches in this municipality”, highlights the municipality.
The Blue Flag is awarded for compliance with a series of strict environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.
After this award, the respective holders assume the responsibility for continuously ensuring compliance with all the criteria underlying this award, and the Blue Flag Association for Environment and Education (ABAAE) is responsible for regularly checking these criteria on the awarded sites.
The Blue Flag Program is an education program for sustainable development, promoted in Portugal by the Blue Flag Association for Environment and Education.
This award aims to educate for sustainable development in coastal, river and lake beaches, recreational ports and marinas and recreational and ecotourism vessels that apply and meet a set of criteria related to Environmental Information and Education, Bathing Water Quality, Environmental Management, Safety and Services, Social Responsibility and Community Involvement.
In this context, the Blue Flag is a symbol of quality that distinguishes the efforts of various entities to make possible the coexistence of local development alongside respect for the environment, raising the level of awareness among citizens in general, and decision-makers in particular, for the need to protect the marine, coastal and lake environment.
Over the last few years, the Blue Flag has sought to involve and raise awareness in society about environmental issues, particularly issues related to the sea.
The theme proposed for this year by ABAEE within the scope of environmental awareness is “The sea needs leaders”. In this context, the municipality of Viana do Castelo will promote a set of activities on these beaches, under this motto, using its environmental technicians.
As O MINHO reported, this year, Minho has 25 Blue Flag beaches, one more than last year, precisely Amorosa Sul.
The largest number is in Viana do Castelo (11), followed by Caminha (5), Esposende (4), Braga (3), Fafe (1) and Vila Verde (1).
