Friday , March 29 2024

Zakynthos:- Application for “Blue Flags” for 6 beaches.

Haralambos Varvarigos: “We hope to succeed because it is very important for the island”

 

After the last two years that have passed fruitlessly on our island, with little or no Blue flags on our beaches, the Municipality of Zakynthos has submitted an application attempting a new effort, wanting to change the landscape that had been formed. Specifically, the application has been sent to the Department of Environment, to which the Blue Flags sector belongs, which was passed by the Evaluation Committee for six beaches. These beaches are: Lagana, Agios Sostis, Alykon, Alykanas, Makry Gialos and Boukas Planos.

Let’s say that last year was a very bad year for our island, since it had only one Blue Flag at the Eleon Grand Resort in Tragaki, while at the same time Kefalonia had 15 Flags, Corfu 10, Lefkada 7 and Ithaca had 1 .

It is worth noting that in 2019 Zakynthos did not have a Blue Flag, while in 2018 and 2017 it had 18. Finally in 2016 our island had 15 Blue Flags on its beaches.

The goal is for Zakynthos to be able to return to the good image of 2017 and 2018 in the coming years.

In fact, the Department of Environment of the Municipality of Zakynthos, in collaboration with the Deputy Mayors of Laganas, Alykes, Arkadia and Elatia, as well as presidents of local communities, set up local committees on the issue of Blue Flags.

“The Department of Environment and the Department of Civil Protection, in collaboration with the deputy mayors, have set up a committee for each beach. Each committee consists of three members who support the whole effort and help to set up each beach with the required criteria. Each deputy mayor has appointed a three-member committee for each beach “, stresses the Deputy Mayor Laganas Haralambos Varvarigos.

In fact, Mr. Varvarigos stressed that the goal is for all six Blue Flags to get the final “Ok” when announced for this year, while in the vision of all this initiative, is to increase their number in the coming years and add more and more coasts.

This, after all, is the concern of the Municipality and those who deal with the issue.

“We have received pre-approval for the beaches and we hope in the coming months to get the official approval for the 6 flags. We hope to succeed, because this will be a stimulus for us to multiply them in time. It is very important for many reasons to have the blue flags on our island and beaches “noted the Deputy Mayor Laganas Haralambos Varvarigos.

The goal of the committees that will monitor the beaches is to constantly monitor whether the necessary criteria are met to get a Blue Flag, while the goal is to enter more and more beaches for our island which as previously known had managed to have several award-winning beaches.

 

George Margaris, President of the Zakynthos Hoteliers Association

 

The president of the Zakynthos Hoteliers Association, referring to the sight of the Blue Flags, stated that “the trademark of Zakynthos is the beaches and its clear waters, therefore it is quite important for the island to have Blue Flags.

So it is imperative that we have not only 6 or 7 for those who have pre-approval this year but many more. It is tragic that last year there was only one beach with a  Blue Flag, but even more important is to maintain this situation and not to remove them for the reasons that I think are known as to what happened last year. To organize the beaches well, to take the appropriate measures and to have lifeguards because lifeguards are the biggest problem and the most difficult part in order to maintain the symbolism of the Blue Flag. I hope that the necessary steps will be taken and that the lifeguards that are needed will be recruited as soon as possible so that they do not have cancellations, because cancelling the Blue Flag’s brings defamation and is even worse than not having them at all. The goal of 17 or 18 is no huge nouveau riche.

Rhodes last year had 34 Blue Flags, Kefalonia 15 and not to mention Halkidiki which had a number of around 85 Blue Flags although the number is not the absolute priority as long as there is proper organization and maintenance of the symbol. “I think that the Municipality should start organizing this situation from now on so that if not this year, next year we will have more organized beaches”, concluded Mr. Margaris.

 

The criteria for a Blue Flag is:-

 

The criteria mentioned for a coast to be able to get a Blue Flag are very strict and are the following:

  • Environmental education and information
  • Information on the coastal ecosystem and the sensitive natural environment in the coastal area.
  • Continuous information of the public about the quality of the bathing waters.
  • Information about the International Program “Blue Flag” in the Bulletin Board of the coast.
  • Printed information and posted behaviour instructions for the coast.
  • Activities that actively promote the protection of the natural environment of the coast.
  • Bathing water quality
  • Bathing water quality, confirmed by sampling measurements
  • Non-discharge of industrial wastewater to the coast
  • Urban wastewater treatment, as required by the European Directive
  • Environmental Management
  • Land use plan and environmental management
  • Periodic cleaning of the coast from garbage, cigarette butts, etc.
  • Sufficient waste bins, which are emptied at regular intervals
  • Facilities for recyclable materials
  • Adequate sanitation facilities, with controlled drainage system
  • Prohibition of driving vehicles and mopeds on the coast
  • Prohibition of free camping
  • Pet monitoring on the shore
  • Maintenance of buildings and equipment on the coast
  • Security, lifeguards, first aid, services and facilities
  • Trained lifeguards – or direct access to telephone – rescue supplies and first aid
  • Plans for dealing with a pollution accident, by informing the public immediately
  • Safe passage to the coast and care for people with disabilities

 

Main photo:- Pinterest

source:- Hmera

About Louise Inzk

Louise is Australian born and has been a Greek citizen since 1991. She has deep cultural ties with the island, often writing about Zakynthian Traditions and Culture. She is also an active member of the Volunteer Group of Zakynthos, Giostra Di Zante and is a member of the women's choir "Rodambelos". Her love of the island and all it offers saw her joining the Zakynthos (Zante) Informer admin team in 2014.

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