Blue Flag is an International Certification system with stringent standards, that recreational beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators may voluntarily target as an environmental quality services label. It is a world-renowned award trusted by millions around the globe. The certification program is operated under the auspices of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) based in Copenhagen, Denmark. In order to qualify for this prestigious award, members need to realize and maintain a series of environmental, educational, safety-related and access-related criteria. FEE works tirelessly in close collaboration with its members on issues they may face to ensure the program’s expansion, and that the unrivalled standards of the Blue Flag are internationally maintained. Verification of the Blue Flag standards is conducted at the national levels by entrusted National or Regional Committees.   

The Royal Marine Conservation Society (JREDS), which heads the Blue Flag National Committee in Jordan, organized with the participation of the National Committee members an evaluation campaign for the touristic beaches and boat marinas in Aqaba, Jordan members of the Blue Flag 2022 program. The evaluation campaign was conducted in Aqaba, Jordan under the MED4EBM project framework during the period January 16th-17th 2022. It aimed at verifying the eligibility of the member sites for obtaining the Blue Flag Certificate by tracking their application and implementation of the set International Standards. 

Blue Flag standards include among other things monitoring of the seawater quality, focusing on the microbial aspects that may impact the health of the facilities’ users. This is in line with the objectives of the MED4EBM Project, which involve gathering environmental data necessary to feed in the Ecosystem-based Integrated Coastal Zone Management Decision Support System (EB ICZM DSS). The assessment campaign provided valuable information to feed in the database about the touristic sector in Aqaba, hotel beaches and marinas in particular. By the end of the campaign, 6 facilities have demonstrated proper qualifications and were nominated for the Blue Flag Certificate.