The mayor of Badalona (Barcelonès Nord), Xavier Garcia Albiol, once again demands from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition the regeneration of the sand on the city's beaches, because the lack of sand could cause the loss of one of the blue flags obtained this year , specifically the beaches of La Estación, Coco and Puente del Petróleo -under the sole name of Playa del Coco-. These three sections and the Marina de Badalona beach have once again obtained the Blue Flag recognition granted by the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education and the Foundation for Environmental Education (ADEAC-FEE).
The mayor has pointed out that "for the granting of the blue flags, the state of the beaches has been taken into account before the storms of March 9 and the storm Nelson, at the end of the same month" and that "the loss of sand In these two episodes it has caused a reduction in width and a deterioration in accessibility conditions that could foreseeably lead to the loss of the Blue Flag on Coco Beach. For this reason, García Albiol has indicated that, “it is.” It is essential and urgent that the Ministry take the necessary steps to return the most affected beaches to their usual state, by providing sand. It is not just about the blue flags, but we need this action very urgently in several sections so that the Badalona beach can be in condition for use by all Badaloneses,” he explained.
The Blue Flag award is a worldwide award that recognizes that the beach meets criteria of legality, accessibility, health, cleanliness and safety, as well as that it has adequate environmental information and management. Specifically, the requirements to qualify for this distinction include the obligation to have updated information on the quality of bathing water, carry out activities related to environmental information and education, guarantee cleanliness and selective waste collection, provide a professional rescue and lifeguard service and that the beach is adapted for people with functional diversity, among others.
On the other hand, the Sea School, Badalona Marine Studies Center and the Angeleta Ferrer Nature School, located in the Can Miravitges farmhouse, have also become a Blue Flag Center again this year as facilities open to the public in the that pedagogical tasks are carried out for schools on marine ecosystems and environmental dissemination activities to citizens in general.
For its part, the port of Badalona has also renewed the Blue Flag distinction for another year, an award given to ports that meet standards of good practices and environmental information, legality and good maintenance of facilities and safety issues. .
