Good Practice Competition results for the Northern Hemisphere 2025 International Evaluation

As part of the Northern Hemisphere 2025 International Evaluation, Blue Flag International invited the National Operators to share Good Practice examples from their countries. The themes of this edition were:

• Measures to prevent pollinator and insect loss

• Measure to promote climate adaptation

In total, 22 Good Practices have been submitted by 13 countries as part of the latest International Evaluation round. That included

• 14 Good Practices related to Climate adaptation;

• 8 Good Practices related to Pollinator and Insect Loss Prevention;

The International Jury was then presented with a selection of Good Practices during its meeting on the 10th of April 2025, and evaluated the Good Practices within each category. In this process, relevance, creativity, adaptability, collaboration, and replicability were taken into consideration.

The final rankings are presented below, including the winning top Good Practices from each category.

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Measure to promote climate adaptation

© Municipality of Ishøj

3rd place - ‘Beach SOS ’,
Municipality of Ishøj, Denmark

The Beach SOS initiative at Køge Bugt Strandpark in Denmark combines large-scale sand nourishment, reinforced dikes, and sustainable tourism infrastructure to enhance coastal resilience, while the expanding Havhytten marine center fosters climate adaptation through education and community engagement.

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© Municipality of Teulada

3rd place - ‘Dune Awareness-raising workshops on the beach’,
Municipality of Teulada, Spain

A series of interactive workshops in Playa de la Ampolla de Moraira, Spain, raised awareness among 90 participants about the vital role of seagrass beds and seaweed in coastal protection, promoting respect for natural processes and their importance in combating climate change.

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© Hotel Wyndham

2nd place - ‘Coastal Green’,
Hotel Wyndham, Mexico

The Viva Azteca By Wyndham Hotel launched a coastal restoration project, planting 400 native plants to stabilize sand, prevent erosion, and promote biodiversity. The project engages tourists and locals through environmental workshops, talks, and hands-on activities.

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© Municipality of Denia

1st place - ‘Environmental volunteering to restore the dune system’,
Municipality of Denia, Spain

An environmental volunteering initiative at Punta del Raset beach mobilised 60 participants to restore dune ecosystems and protect the Kentish plover’s habitat, combining hands-on conservation with educational signage and sand traps to combat erosion, support biodiversity, and foster sustainable tourism.

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Measures to prevent pollinator and insect loss.

© Municipality of Gavà

3rd place - ‘BIO Platges met’,
Municipality of Gavà, Spain

BIO PLATGES MET in Gavá, Spain, is a citizen science initiative that engages beachgoers in monitoring pollinators and local biodiversity through educational signage and digital tools, raising awareness and contributing valuable data for ecosystem conservation.

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© Municipality of Leiria

2nd place - ‘Pollinator Friendly Schools Network’,
Municipality of Leiria, Portugal

In Portugal, the Pollinator Friendly Schools Network empowered students across six schools to combat pollinator decline by planting native species and creating insect habitats, blending environmental education with hands-on restoration to support biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.

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© City of Delray Beach, Florida

1st place - ‘Pocket Parks and Pollinator Gardens ’,
City of Delray Beach, Florida, USA

In Delray Beach, USA, the Pocket Parks and Pollinator Gardens initiative created ten biodiverse green spaces in partnership with residents and the National Wildlife Refuge, combining public engagement, educational events, and citizen science to support pollinators and promote long-term environmental stewardship.

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We would like to congratulate our winners and thank all participants, as your Good Practices play a key role in the Blue Flag network, provide relevant inspiration and contribute to sharing knowledge on sustainability across sites all over the world.  

Good Practice Competition results for the Northern Hemisphere 2024 International Evaluation

As part of the Northern Hemisphere 2024 International Evaluation, Blue Flag International invited the National Operators to share Good Practice examples from their countries. The theme of this edition was ‘Environmental Education Activities’ that could be related to one of three categories: Climate Action, Biodiversity, and Pollution Prevention.

In total, 41 Good Practices have been submitted by 19 countries as part of the latest International Evaluation round. That included

• 23 Good Practices related to Pollution Prevention;

• 12 Good Practices related to Biodiversity;

• 6 Good Practices related to Climate Action.

The International Jury was then presented with a selection of Good Practices during its meeting on the 24th of April 2024, and evaluated the Good Practices within each category. In this process, relevance, creativity, adaptability, collaboration, and replicability were taken into consideration.

The final rankings are presented below, including the winning top 3 Good Practices from each category.

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Environmental Education Activites: Climate Action

©Galway County Council

3rd place - ‘Sea Shore Event’,
Galway County Council, Ireland

An open-for-all event to discover and celebrate the richness of Irish shores. Among other educational activities, a seashore bioblitz was organised. The participants were tasked to find and identify as many living species as possible on the beach and in the sea, learning about local biodiversity, the importance of dune systems, and the role of nature-based solutions in preventing coastal erosion.

©Bridge and B5 beach operator

2nd place - ‘Dam of Posidonia on the Buljarica Beach’,
Bridge and B5 beach operator - Mornar group doo, Montenegro

A water stream that comes down to this beach used to cause frequent floodings, washing out the sand and making the area narrower. In order to mitigate the situation, Posidonia seagrass was planted at the mouth of the stream. Local managers decided that this example could be used to draw tourists' attention to the risks and consequences of climate change. Therefore, information boards were created, along with an awareness-raising quiz that was organised in the beach facilities.

©Palanga Town Municipality

1st place - ‘Mobile Climate Museum’,
Palanga Town Municipality, Lithuania

Sea containers transformed into a mobile museum on climate change. The exhibition presented the causes and effects of climate change, issues related to agriculture, loss of biodiversity, the importance of nature in human life, and offered practical suggestions on how people can make more sustainable choices in their everyday lives. Thanks to its mobility, the museum visited 16 cities across the country, raising awareness on climate-friendly solutions.

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Environmental Education Activities:
BIODIVERSITY

©Municipality of Leiria

3rd place - ‘It’s in our hands’,
Leiria, Portugal

This project encouraged local youths to actively participate in nature conservancy activities. First, students learned about specific environmental issues relevant to the region, and the importance of fighting invasive species. Then, the participants were invited to a session of practical restoration activities, which included monitoring the weevil on the beach and controlling and eradicating the beach willow, herb pampas, and acacias. By having a chance to observe and actively contribute to reducing the adverse effects of invasive species in this territory, they improved their understanding of local ecosystems.

©Mayo County Council and Galway City Council

2nd place - ‘Protect Our Dunes’,
Mayo County Council and Galway City Council, Ireland

This initiative consisted of a series of 5 roadshow family events, aimed at raising local communities' awareness of how to protect dune systems in Northwest Ireland. Educational activities during the roadshow included Family Seashore Safaris and Q&A sessions with a Marine Biologist, teaching about dune systems and their biodiversity, as well as spreading knowledge of activities and behaviours that harm or protect the dunes. The project was supported by a social media campaign that promoted simple actions that everyone can take to protect the dunes.

©B7ar Bla Plastic 2023

1st place - ‘My booklet #Ocean without plastic’,
Morocco

To promote collective responsibility and educate about sustainable practices that preserve the Moroccan coastline, engaging booklets were designed. They were distributed at the Blue Flag awarded beaches, summer camps, schools, and to the scouts from the National Federation of Moroccan Scouting. Through numerous exercises and games, children could learn about marine biodiversity and endangered species. They were also able to discover what simple actions can contribute to protecting the beaches and their ecosystem.

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Environmental Education Activities:
Pollution Prevention

©ZOFEMAT Solidaridad Municipality

3rd place - ‘BASKET PET: prepare the shot, shoot,
and score for the environment"’,
ZOFEMAT Solidaridad Municipality, Mexico

Basket PET fosters community engagement while gamifying the process of plastic waste recycling. Implemented in 4 different sites, the containers were created with reused pallets. Users remove and dispose of plastic bottle lids, empty the liquid residue in a dedicated tank to avoid contamination, and toss the bottle in the basket to dispose of them in a unique and fun way.

©Port Stanley Municipality

2nd place - ‘Microplastics, recycling, and
Zero Waste education’,
Port Stanley Main Beach, Canada

To enhance pollution prevention and environmental stewardship, three interactive workshops were delivered to local elementary classes. During the first workshop, students learned about the impact of microplastics on local habitats and wildlife, the common sources of microplastic pollution, and bioaccumulation, as well as the importance of the Blue Flag award, ocean and lake clean-up initiatives, and water conservation. The second session engaged thestudents in an interactive Sorting Relay Activity. The province’s new solution and Producer-Led Recycling Program was also discussed. In the last workshop, the students explored the fundamentals of Zero Waste, and were challenged to predict the time it takes for common materials to break down in landfills.

©Şile Municipality

1st place - ‘Civic Amenity Centre Project’,
Sile Municipality, Türkiye

The Şile Municipality designed educational workshops that are carried out at the local Waste Collection Center. Each session starts with basic training on environmental awareness, zero waste projects, recycling, and residents´ civic duties in waste management. An interactive art workshop is delivered where the participants restore old pieces of furniture that are later donated to local people in need. At the end of a session, attendees visit the Waste Houses to improve their knowledge of correct waste disposal and segregation. This is part of a strategy to turn waste collection centres into accessible facilities for residents to learn about circular economy and waste management.

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We would like to congratulate our winners and thank all participants, as your Good Practices play a key role in the Blue Flag network, provide relevant inspiration and contribute to sharing knowledge on sustainability across sites all over the world.  

Biodiversity webinars open to all Blue Flag members

As part of the Foundational for Environmental Education (FEE) GAIA 20:30 strategy for the next decade, a series of webinars focused on Biodiversity will be organised by the Blue Flag and Green Key teams in April and May.

Launched by FEE in 2021, the GAIA 20:30 strategy represents the organisation’s commitment to contribute to a more sustainable world. As part of this strategy, FEE will be focusing its resources for the next decade on three critical environmental increasing threats to our planet – climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution.

In 2022, the GAIA 20:30 will protect global biodiversity through different actions: promoting sustainable management of the coastal zone, combating pollinator and insect loss, preserving existing and creating new natural areas, and finally raising awareness of efforts to remove invasive alien species.

Several initiatives will be held within the year dedicated to Biodiversity, including a Biodiversity Competition, a course, and four webinars, conducted in April and May. The webinars, developed in partnership between Green Key International and Blue Flag International teams, will focus on different aspects of biodiversity. The first webinar will be held on April 5th and the last one, conducted in May (date to be confirmed), can be particularly relevant for the Blue Flag national operators and members since they will explore the importance of biodiversity for coastal areas.

Focused on the Importance of Biodiversity to the Tourism Industry, the first webinar hosted on April 5th will raise questions as such:

• What is biodiversity?

• Why is it important for tourism?

• What are the negative impacts of tourism on biodiversity?

More information will be shared in the upcoming weeks on the Blue Flag page and social media on how to sign up for the Biodiversity webinars.

Blue Flag and Pick a Pier partner to launch exclusive Popeye® Sail Club

With the increasing demand for berth space, industry leaders are finding new ways to sustain our marinas while continuing to adamantly protect the ocean. Blue Flag’s digital partner, Pick a Pier, is at the forefront of this mission and has just introduced an exciting new initiative — the Popeye® Sail Club.  

Pick a Pier is a leading online platform that connects boaters and marinas, streamlining the berth reservation process and simplifying communication. Now it’s becoming even stronger with the launch of Popeye® Sail Club.

Popeye® the Sailor Man, the tough, loveable seafarer from the comics is now more helpful, more intelligent, and even stronger with technology — the perfect mascot to champion an international sustainability initiative.

 “We’re excited by the incredible opportunity to engage directly with boaters to promote sustainable boating practices,” said International Blue Flag Director Johann Durand. “With Popeye at the helm, we can make the message of responsible sailing far more memorable.”

 Here’s how it works

 For every sail, boaters earn points, which can be redeemed at participating marinas as credit towards reservation fees. By reserving berth space in advance on Pick a Pier’s platform, boaters can now sail with ease while maintaining the flexibility to change their reservation up until the day of arrival.

 Knowing with certainty exactly where to dock in two weeks is reward enough. But with a Popeye® Sail Club membership, boaters will be further rewarded for those advance reservations. Boaters can book a berth with priority access at some of the most sustainable marina destinations and get points for every USD/Euro spent. They’ll also get points for reporting that their own berthing space will be vacant when they sail away from their home marina. The programme encourages boaters to plan ahead by giving up to 3 times the points on early reservations.

 Points can then be redeemed for discounted reservations and other marina services. On top of that, Pick a Pier will have special offers and promotions just for members that make points even more worthwhile.

Popeye® Sail Club is launching by invitation only and boaters at participating marinas will be the first to get their exclusive membership. Other boaters can be added to the waitlist at www.popeyesailclub.com

“We are extremely proud of this one-of-a-kind programme. Popeye® Sail Club is taking the Pick a Pier experience one step further. The club is designed for the most passionate boaters, empowering them to easily sail in a more sustainable way — and rewarding them along the way,” explains Idan Cohen, CEO of Pick a Pier.

Promoting better sustainability practices 

Popeye® Sail Club is built around sharing economy principles that promote better use of existing resources and sustainability.  

Pick a Pier is already helping Blue Flag marinas optimise their resources without compromising the environment or creating more work for their staff. Allowing marinas to do more with what they have reduces the need for marina construction or expansion. 

But working with marinas and incentivizing boaters to plan ahead to increase sustainability is just one piece of the puzzle. In partnership with Blue Flag, Pick a Pier will ask that new boaters take the Sustainable Boating Pledge and adhere to eco-friendly practices at sea and on-shore. 

 The five basic principles are simple and incredibly effective in raising awareness among boaters and promoting a healthy ecosystem. 

1. Protect the Waters
   Refuel with care and never dump waste into the ocean

2. Safeguard Marine Life
   Anchor and fish only in permitted areas 

3.  Minimise Waste
   Avoid single-use plastics and use eco-friendly cleaning products when possible. 

4. Be More Considerate
   Be mindful of other boaters in your vicinity. Dump sewage only where permitted. 

5. Stay Watchful 
   Report violations and inform authorities about hazards. 

Blue Flag is committed to ensuring a resilient ocean, and Popeye® Sail Club will help us reach more boaters, showing everyone that ease of use, profitability and sustainability go hand in hand.