PHILIPSBURG:--- Blue Flag is an exclusive, voluntary eco-label annually awarded to beaches and/or marinas which meet a specific set of criteria concerning environmental information and education, water quality, safety, services and environmental management.
The program is designed to raise environmental awareness and increase sound environmental practices among residents, tourists and the management and staff of marinas, beaches and resorts. The eco-label has become an international symbol of quality recognized by governments, non-governmental organizations and tour operators and is used for the promotion of the awarded beach or marina. As of 2014 the Blue Flag eco-label has been awarded to over 4000 beaches and marinas in 49 countries around the world.
Blue Flag serves as an instrument aimed at assisting countries, beach or marina operators in improving their environmental practices, maintaining and expanding the program is hence desirable from a sustainable development perspective. The eco-label also serves as a communication or marketing tool geared at highlighting products and services which meet or surpass a set of internationally accepted criteria. Blue Flag beaches and marinas are synonymous with quality and consequently responsive to ever increasing tourist demands and expectations for a healthy environment.
On Sint Maarten The Yacht Club Isle de Sol was awarded the prestigious Blue Flag eco-label in October of 2011, making St. Maarten the first country in the Dutch Caribbean to have a Blue Flag marina. The Marina has consistently met Blue Flag Criteria and has therefore been recertified annually since first awarded the Blue Flag.
Blue Flag is managed internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) which has a national administration center in each participating country. In St. Maarten, Blue Flag is run by the National Operator, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC).
Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) representative Mr. Finn Bolding Thomsen carried out an international Blue Flag inspection at Isle de Sol this past week. Isle de Sol Management accompanied Thomsen on his inspection and provided information on the Yacht Club's ongoing, new and planned Environmental Management initiatives; One such initiative is the recycling program the Yacht Club started at their facilities with a local company in 2012. Plastic Bottles, Aluminum Cans, Glass Bottles and Cardboard are collected in separate Garbage Bins and subsequently shipped off island for recycling purposes. Mr. Thomsen also received a tour and explanation of the facilities for the reception and temporary storage of Hazardous waste such as used Oil, Oil Filters etc. All was found to be in good order and in compliance with Blue Flag Marina Criteria.
FEE and EPIC commend The Yacht Club Isle de Sol on their sense of Corporate Social Responsibility and urge Isle de Sol to continue to lead by example and expand its Sound Environmental Management initiatives.
EPIC Press Release