Brazilian beaches are cleaning up their act

Although still underexploited, Brazil’s potential for sustainable tourism is growing. An example of this is the ever-increasing number of beaches and marinas with a Blue Flag certification, an international award focused on the quality of environmental management in coastal areas worldwide.

Brazil has 40 coastal sites set to be awarded a Blue Flag this year, a number that can seem small compared to some other countries but which represents a 42 percent increase on last year.

Last week, all 29 beaches and 11 marinas in Brazil which had been submitted for evaluation by the program’s international jury this year were deemed suitable for receiving the certification, which will be officially awarded in November during a ceremony in the coastal city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro state.

To qualify for a Blue Flag, beaches must meet four criteria established by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), the Danish NGO that runs the program.   

The first and most important criterion concerns water quality, based on international standards and legislation. The second is about education and environmental information; the sites must feature educational activities as well as clear signage to guarantee environmentally conscious behavior from bathers.

Thirdly, beaches and marinas must have good-quality security and services, including the presence of trained lifeguards, policing, and infrastructures such as walkways and restrooms. Finally, Blue Flag sites must display solid environmental management, for example, with efficient garbage collection systems.

The state of Santa Catarina, in the south of Brazil, remains the country’s Blue Flag champion this year: it has 18 beaches, and four marinas considered fit to receive the certification. Rio de Janeiro comes...