The European Blue Flag Association announced on May 20 the awarding of the Blue Flag to Vasco da Gama Beach and the Sines’ Leisure Port, both infrastructures managed by APS – Ports of Sines and the Algarve Authority, which have been distinguished with this award since 2007 and 2008, respectively. This awarding attests the port authority commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development of the economic activities managed by APS.
The Blue Flag is awarded to beaches or infrastructures that comply with a set of requirements, not only environmental, but also safety and well-being of users, both in terms of the information available and in terms of environmental awareness activities.
This year, taking into account the extraordinary circumstances we face, in addition to complying with the Blue Flag Criteria, an Exceptional Criterion COVID-19 was also foreseen, which is related to the need for the beaches / marinas / awarded boats to ensure compliance with the rules extraordinary spaces established for your space by the competent national and regional entities, with regard to combating Pandemic COVID 19.
In 2020, the theme chosen by the European Blue Flag Association was “WELL-BEING is a Place by the Sea”, to which two other themes were added, taking into account the pandemic context we are experiencing - “The Sea Begins Here – The Sea It starts in You! ” and “Back to the Sea, with an Attitude to Change”. With these themes, the Blue Flag Association intends to draw attention to the urgent need for a change in attitude towards the sea, towards nature; protecting the maritime ecosystem depends on each one of us; changing the way we behave socially and environmentally is a priority.