Vega Baja – Two beaches, a marina and four tourist boat operators in Puerto Rico received, on Tuesday, the Blue Flag for the 2024-2025 season, an international award that recognizes the environmental management of coastal areas.
Specifically, the recognized beaches were New Portin Vega Baja, and Palominoin Fajardo, where the marina is also Safe Harbor Puerto del Rey. Among the tourist boat operators, the award was given to East Island Excursionsby East Wind, Caribe Spirit, Eco Isleño, Island Flyer, Tropical Escape, Blue Paradise and Zatara; Bella Venturas, by Josiah’s Reach and U Turn; Caribbean Bliss, by La Rabiosa and Abillo; and Sea Venturesby Coral Queen II.
All areas were honored for meeting standards of water quality, cleanliness, waste management, conservation of natural resources, lifeguard services and accessibility for people with disabilities, established by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE, in English).
The Law of the Program for the Promotion, Protection and Conservation of the Beaches of Puerto Rico Aspiring to the Blue Flag (Law 173 of 2000) promotes environmental education, sustainability, tourism and economic development in the country. In that line, the Sustainable Environment Organization (OPAS) – as a local Blue Flag operator – is committed to supporting the award-winning areas in order to conserve ecosystems.
“If we see that they need to reinforce some criteria, we work hand in hand with them so that they can comply with them. “Also, we offer them workshops to develop other capacities, such as the development of educational activities or the development of knowledge of the resources they use”expressed the executive director of PAHO, Carmen Rosa Valentín del Ríoto questions from The New Dayin a press conference after the flag delivery ceremony.
Valentín del Río expressed the entity’s interest in involving more beaches, marinas and tourist boats, and invited the coastal areas that participated in the Blue Flag in previous seasons to rejoin the program.
“We know that many of the beaches have improvement plans, they are being reconditioned, so we are interested in being able to align those plans so that they meet the criteria and can maintain them”he asserted.
During the ceremony –in the Portela House Museumin Vega Baja–, the deputy director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Nancy Robles Riverostated that the recognition of the Blue Flag provides the country “a competitive advantage, not only in the Caribbean, but internationally.”
“Today, we continue to work with the same force since we started, together with OPAS, to guarantee that this and future generations can enjoy the natural beauties that Puerto Rico has,” added Robles Rivero.
This season, Puerto Rico is among the 50 countries and 4,800 coastal areas under the program Blue Flag International of the FEE. Currently, OPAS celebrates 20 years of the implementation of the Blue Flag program at the local level.