The Blue Flag Programme
The Blue Flag is a voluntary eco-label awarded to over 5000 beaches and marinas in over 40 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand, Canada and the Caribbean. The Blue Flag is an international award given to beaches, harbours and marinas and boats which participate in the Blue Flag Programme and which have proven to be clean and safe and respecting the environment. The Blue Flag works towards sustainable development at beaches/marinas through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services. The Blue Flag programme is one of the five programmes run by the independent non-profit international organisation The Foundation for Environmental Education. (FEE) The Blue Flag Programme includes environmental education and information for the public, decision makers and tourism operators.
Blue Flag Operator - Malta
The National Blue Flag operator for Malta is Nature Trust (Malta) NTM. The environmental NGO was founded in 1962 and today it focuses on three major areas; ecological site management, environmental education and lobbying for a better environment. NTM launched the FEE programmes in Malta in 2002. Today it runs; Ekoskola (Green Flag), Blue Flag, Young Reporters for the Environment YRE. 