Several Swedish beaches and harbours are awarded by the organisation Blue Flag. This year, the flag will be hoisted at eight beaches and thirteen harbours.
The Blue Flag award is given to beaches, recreational boat harbours and tourist boats that meet criteria in areas such as water quality, environment, education, safety and accessibility.
This year, three Swedish municipalities stand out: Helsingborg, Varberg and Vellinge. They have all received multiple awards each.
Harbours and beaches with the Blue Flag work to improve environmental and sustainability performance within their own operations and facilitate individual responsibility for nature and the environment, says Henrik Alsén, responsible for Blue Flag in Sweden.
Among other things, it can involve offering information on consideration for animals and nature, offering environmentally labelled products or facilitating waste management.
Blue Flag is an international award, found at over 5,000 facilities in 51 countries. The award must be reapplied for each year, and it is a jury that decides where the flag will be hoisted.
Harbours:
Gävle guest harbour (Gävle)
Båtsällskapet Arken (Kungsängen)
Pampas marina (Solna)
Heleneborgs boat club (Stockholm)
Hälleviks harbour (Sölvesborg)
Torekovs harbour (Torekov)
Trosa guest harbour (Trosa)
Fyrudden harbour (Valdemarsvik)
Båtfjordens harbour (Varberg)
Getterön marina (Varberg)
Varbergs inner harbour (Varberg)
Skanörs harbour (Vellinge)
Gästhamnen Stavsnäs winter harbour (Värmdö)
Beaches:
Domsten (Helsingborg)
Järnvägsmännens brygga (Helsingborg)
Rydebäck (Helsingborg)
Långa bryggan, Bjärred (Lomma)
Trosa seaside resort (Trosa)
Falsterbo beach resort (Vellinge)
Kämpinge beach resort (Vellinge)
Skanörs seaside resort (Vellinge)