BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
The Blue Flag Label: What It Actually Guarantees for a Marina or Beach
Since 1985, the Blue Flag has rewarded marinas and beaches on precise environmental and safety criteria. What the label actually means for a boat renter.
The small blue-and-white flag flying at the entrance of some marinas isn't just summer decoration: it's an international label, awarded every year on precise criteria, that can usefully steer the choice of a stopover.
A label born in France, in 1985
Created in France in 1985, the Blue Flag is today run by Teragir, the French representative of the Foundation for Environmental Education. It's the world's first eco-label dedicated to beaches and marinas, awarded each year on a voluntary basis to towns and port managers who apply for it.
What the criteria actually cover
Earning the label rests on a set of criteria grouped under several broad themes: water quality, waste management, safety, accessibility, environmental education, and energy efficiency. For a marina, the criteria notably cover the recovery of boats' waste water, management of dredging sludge, and treatment of polluting liquids from the bilges of larger vessels — a topic our guide to waste aboard covers from a renter's point of view.
What it actually changes at a stopover
In a labelled marina, you can more consistently expect waste and waste-water collection points, closely monitored bathing water in nearby coves, and generally more rigorous environmental management than average. That said, it's no guarantee of quiet or low crowds: the label says nothing about how many boats will be at the dock on 15 August, a point our guide to sailing around 15 August covers separately.
What the research says
A study published in Tourism Management, which surveyed visitors to labelled and unlabelled beaches across Britain and Wales, nuanced the Blue Flag's actual effect on holidaymakers' choices: while the label is widely recognised and carries a positive image, it turns out to be just one factor among many in choosing one beach over another, well behind weather or proximity (McKenna, Williams & Cooper, Tourism Management, 2011, see the study on Google Scholar). Worth keeping the logo in perspective, without dismissing what it actually guarantees behind the scenes.
Boat-Comparator doesn't filter offers by Blue Flag status, but nothing stops you checking a marina's status before booking — one more criterion, among others, for choosing your stopover.
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