UNITED EP NATIONS Distr. LIMITED United Nations Environment UNEP(DEC)/CAR WG.24/INF.6
Programme 24 April 2003 ENGLISH Original: ENGLISH
Second Meeting of the Interim Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee (ISTAC) to the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities in the Wider Caribbean (LBS)
Managua, Nicaragua, May 12-16 2003
CARIBBEAN BLUE FLAG PROGRAMME Caribbean Blue Flag Campaign (CBFC) Pilot Beach Criteria (See accompanying guidance notes) (i) = imperative criterion (g) = guideline criterion
WATER QUALITY
1. Compliance with requirements and standards such as those of Class I Waters as defined by the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities (i)
2. No direct discharge of industrial, sewage effluent or storm water to the beach (i)
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION
3. Information about the Blue Flag Campaign and rules governing beach use and conduct should be prominently displayed (i)
4. A map of the beach must be available (i)
5. Information about bathing water quality should be prominently displayed (i)
6. Information about sensitive environmental resources should be available (i)
7. A minimum of 3 environmental education activities must be offered (i)
8. The local authority should encourage sustainable means of transportation (g)
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
9. A beach management committee must be established to institute and be in charge of environmental management systems and to conduct regular environmental audits of the beach facility (i)
10. Waste disposal and recycling bins/receptacles must be placed as needed for the beach size and capacity (i)
11. The entire length of the beach must be clean (i)
12. On the beach there will be no unauthorised camping or driving and no dumping (i)
13. Adequate and clean sanitary facilities with controlled sewage disposal must be present (i)
2 14. Environmental management of the beach, taking into account sensitive species and habitats, must be carefully planned and enforced (i)
15. The beach must comply with all regulations affecting the location and operation of the beach (i)
16. All buildings and equipment of the beach must be properly maintained (i)
17. No access for any pets on the beach with the exception of dogs for blind people (i)
SAFETY AND SERVICES
18. An adequate number of trained lifeguards and lifesaving/first aid equipment must be available at the beach (i)
19. There must be management of different users and uses of the beach so as to prevent conflicts and accidents (i)
20. An internationally recognized warning system for environmental pollution safety risks must be in place (i)
21. Access for disabled persons should be provided to the beach and the beach toilet facilities (i)
22. There must be easy and safe access to the beach (i)
23. There must be available an adequate supply of potable drinking water (g)
B LUE F LAG C ARIBBEAN CONSORTIUM (BFCC): Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA) Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism / Caribbean Hotel Association (CAST/CHA)
3 Caribbean Blue Flag Campaign (CBFC) PilotPilot BeachBeach CriteriaCriteria
THE BLUE FLAG CAMPAIGN IN THE CARIBBEAN
4 The Blue Flag Campaign for beaches and marinas is owned and run by the non-governmental and non-profit organisation “Foundation for Environmental Education” (FEE). The Blue Flag Campaign has been operating in Europe since 1987 and South Africa since 2001. The Campaign has proven to be an effective environmental management tool, particularly with regard to water quality standards, safety standards and awareness-raising through environmental education. In the 15 years of the Blue Flag Campaign, it has become an internationally known and recognised symbol for tourists and tour operators.
FEE is co-operating with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Tourism Organization (WTO) on implementing the Blue Flag Campaign in areas outside Europe. The three organisations introduced the Blue Flag concept to the Caribbean at a workshop in Puerto Rico, 13-14 December 1999. Subsequent production of a Caribbean Feasibility study confirmed the eligibility and interest for a Blue Flag Campaign in the region.
A Caribbean Blue Flag Consortium consisting of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA) and the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) was set-up in May 2001, with the approval of FEE, in order to advance the Blue Flag implementation work in the Caribbean. The announcement of the Caribbean Pilot phase was made in June 2002. The connection between the Caribbean and FEE will be formalised in October 2002 and the Caribbean Blue Flag pilot phase will then subsequently be launched in November 2002.
CARIBBEAN BLUE FLAG CRITERIA / GUIDANCE NOTES
The guidance notes constitute the common FEE understanding of the Caribbean Blue Flag pilot beach criteria. The Caribbean pilot beach criteria will be tested and evaluated at selected beaches in different countries in the Caribbean in 2002/2003. The Caribbean beach criteria/guidance notes will subsequently be elaborated and modified before being approved by FEE. These final Criteria/guidance notes will be used as the basis for the first full Blue Flag beach awards for 2004/2005 for the Caribbean.
The Caribbean pilot beach criteria and guidance notes serve as guide for the Blue Flag pilot beaches as they work towards compliance with the Caribbean beach criteria. In addition, the Caribbean pilot beach criteria/guidance notes are a useful tool for communicating about the Caribbean Blue Flag beach Campaign to other interested potential Caribbean beach applicants and all other interested parties.
The Caribbean Blue Flag pilot beach criteria must be understood as minimum criteria: any national campaign can choose to have stricter demands than are here outlined.
5 FEE reserves the right to refuse or withdraw the Blue Flag pilot status where the beach operator or local authorities are responsible for violations of national environmental regulations or otherwise act in discord with the objectives and spirit of the Blue Flag Campaign.
DEFINITION OF A BLUE FLAG PILOT BEACH
A beach can be eligible for the Blue Flag pilot beach status if it is a national officially designated bathing area. The name and extent of the beach follow the official national recognitions.
The beach must be willing, within the coming 1-2 years, to establish the necessary facilities and standards to comply with the Caribbean Blue Flag criteria.
A responsible person in the local authority must be appointed to deal with the relations to the Blue Flag Campaign.
(i) = imperative criterion (g) = guideline criterion
WATER QUALITY
24. Compliance with requirements and standards such as those of Class I Waters as defined by the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities (i) The parameters in this water quality criterion are related to the management of Class I Waters as defined by the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities (LBSP Protocol), a protocol of the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment (Cartagena Convention). The LBSP Protocol defines Class I Waters as waters that “due to inherent or unique environmental characteristics or fragile biological or ecological characteristics or human use, are particularly sensitive to the impacts of domestic wastewater”. Class I Waters have been identified to include different types of water, including water containing coral reefs and water used for recreation.
The parameters for the water quality criterion also take into consideration the significance to pollution indications, the requirement of high amenity values, and the sustainability of monitoring programs.
The standards described here for recreational/bathing water quality for beaches must be adopted where the standards are not in existence. The beach must comply with national standards for
6 bathing water quality, where those standards are more restrictive than the standards described here.
SAMPLING POINTS The beach must have a minimum of three (3) sampling points, reflecting the up drift, midpoint, and down drift conditions affecting the beach. Points chosen should be representative of the stretch of beach and should be placed where the concentration of bathers is highest and at points of potential pollution sources (such as streams, rivers or other inlets entering the beach). At least one of the sampling points should coincide with a sampling point of the wider sampling program of the regulatory body, if such a program exist and these sampling points exist in the beach area.
WATER QUALITY PARAMETRES Biological o Total coliform bacteria o Faecal coliform bacteria
Chemical o pH o Nitrates o Phosphates
Qualitative o Oils and grease o Transparency/turbidity o Floatables
The biological parameters, qualitative parameters and pH relate to good water quality for protection of health during swimming, while nitrate and phosphate parameters indicate the good water quality in relation to the protection of coral reefs.
BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS Parameter Standard Total Coliform <250/100 ml in minimum 75% of samples taken over a period of a year
Faecal Coliform <100/100 ml in minimum 75% of samples
7 taken over a period of a year
Must be <400/100 ml in any sample
Biological samples must be taken once every 14 days. During the rainy season, samples are to be taken once every 7 days.
In the event that 400/100 ml is exceeded for faecal coliform, samples are then to be retaken for the parameter within 5 days from the date the initial sample was taken, in order to confirm the result. These samples are to be taken at the affected sites, as well as from sites immediately adjacent. If this level is once again exceeded in the confirmation test, then samples are to be taken once every 7 days over a period of 1 month to ensure that the conditions have returned to normal, otherwise adherence to the normal sampling is to be instituted. During the evaluation period, the Blue Flag must be removed and can only be re-flown after conditions are shown to have returned to normal.
In instances where the total coliform or faecal coliform level each exceed the limits in >25% of the samples taken over a one year period, the Flag cannot be flown for the rest of the current season OR the following season, only after a year where compliance to the standards is demonstrated.
The method suggested here is the MPN– “Most Probable Number” method. In the interest of increased quality and comparability of the bathing water quality data used for the evaluation of candidates for the Blue Flag, FEE finds that methods of analyses that ensure a certain trueness, reproducibility, repeatability and comparability between methods should be used. FEE intends to follow International (ISO) standards in its recommendations regarding parameters and acceptable methods of analysis for them.
CHEMICAL PARAMETERS Parameter Standard PH 6.5 – 8.5
Nitrates (NO3) 0.6 mg/l
Phosphates (PO4) 0.1 mg/l
pH should be monitored once every day. Nitrates and phosphates should be monitored once a month in six months to establish baseline, thereafter monitored once every second month.
8 In instances where standards for NO3 and PO4 are exceeded, sampling must be done once every 7 days over a 1-month period to ensure that conditions have returned to normal. Breaches warrant an investigation to determine possible problems. Plans should also be implemented to correct these problems.
FEE intends to follow International (ISO) standards in its recommendations regarding parameters and acceptable methods of analysis for them.
QUALITATIVE PARAMETERS Parameter Standard Oil and Grease Absence of Sheen or Odour
Transparency/Turbidity Secchi Disk reading to the bottom up to the swimming boundary or to a depth of 3 meters if the depth of the swim area exceeds 3 meters.
Acceptable readings must be obtained in a minimum of 75% of samples taken over a period of a year.
Floatables Complete absence (immediate removal).
Oil/Grease, Transparency/Turbidity and Floatables are checked once a day.
FEE intends to follow International (ISO) standards in its recommendations regarding parameters and acceptable methods of analysis for them.
SAMPLING/MONITORING An independent person officially authorised and trained for the task must collect the samples. The water quality monitoring and testing program must be conducted by a nationally accredited/recognized laboratory. Microbiological and chemical analyses should be taken 30 cm below water surface.
25. No direct discharge of industrial, sewage effluent or storm water to the beach (i) There must not be any injection of industrial or urban wastewater originating from a source within or outside the community, affecting the water quality of the beach.
9 Any discharge points in the area of the presented beaches and in the community in general must be notified. It must be documented that the water from any discharges in the beach area does not affect the environment.
Regarding industrial pollution, notification must be given about industrial facilities and plants in the vicinity of the presented beaches and in the community in general with information about their likely influence on the environment. Moreover, the appropriate authorities must be able to document that the area is under control for environmental impacts of nearby industrial facilities, that appropriate monitoring is carried out and that it does not pose a public health or environmental hazard.
If the beach is affected by sewage-related, run-off waste or waste brought unto land from the water and this waste does not originate from the applicant community, remedial actions must be taken. First priority should be the removal of the sources altogether. If this is not at all feasible other alternatives are: regular collection and removal of the waste that accumulates on the beach.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION
26. Information about the Blue Flag Campaign and rules governing beach use and conduct should be prominently displayed (i) Standardized information about the Blue Flag Campaign and rules governing beach use and conduct should be available to users of the beach and displayed at the information board located at the beach entrance(s) and/or near the flag.
27. A map of the beach must be available (i) The map should be showing the area of the beach, including designated use zones (if any). The location of the following facilities should also be indicated on the map: lifeguard, lifesaving equipment, water sampling points. The map should be located at the information board located at the beach entrance(s) and/or near the flag.
28. Information about bathing water quality should be prominently displayed (i) Each beach operator must have clear, up-to-date information on general coastal water quality in the area, especially around the designated swimming areas. The standardized information must be posted at the Blue Flag information board within three weeks after the sampling has been carried out.
10 29. Information about sensitive environmental resources should be available (i) The aim of this criterion is to ensure that the beach users are well informed and educated about any nearby sensitivities of the surrounding natural environment, and at the same time that they are being motivated to experience that environment.
Some sites may prove environmentally very sensitive and require particular management. It may even be that the fragility of certain natural environments precludes them from giving this information because greater visitor numbers would endanger wildlife or habitats.
The information must be available through the designated local lead institution and/or beach operator. The information should be provided by display in public places in tourist sites, at the Blue Flag beaches, at the sensitive areas or in the tourist information office, and/or information in tourist brochures, tourist newspapers and pamphlets for this specific purpose.
If the information is not posted on the beach information board, there must at least be a short notice on the beach informing about the nearby sensitive area and where to find further information. Information for divers or snorkellers about sensitive environmental resources must furthermore be posted at the beach information board in case of those activities taking place.
30. A minimum of 3 environmental education activities must be offered (i) The environmental education initiatives should be carried out in the locality of the Blue Flag beach throughout the year of each award.
The activities should be addressed to different target groups. It is important that the local authorities together with other operators in the area organise a program that will educate and raise the awareness of many of the different interests that influence the use of the local environment: visitors, local population, employees in tourism enterprises, fishermen, local industries etc.
The activities could be part of already existing environmental education programmes at the site, in the local community, etc.
Information about the publicly accessible activities must be published either at the information points on the beach or in tourism newspapers or magazines or posted in tourism offices: - What kind of activities? - When and where are they going to take place?
Examples of environmental education activities:
11 Training, covering information on environmental resources, issues and related folklore and history of tour operators arranging marine and/or terrestrial tours Tour operators providing costumers with an orientation session prior to the start of a diving and snorkelling tour The establishment of a regional environmental education resource centre, which could be an existing institution involved in environmental education, with information on the Blue Flag Campaign Production of leaflets, stickers, timetables, postcards, school and municipal newsletters, books, T-shirts, bags, posters, spots on the radio, etc. Production of exhibitions, films, presentations, slide shows, organisation of conferences and debates, etc. Guided tours, educational games (like question-answer games, environmental races, games for picking up garbage, etc.), theatre plays, cleaning days, coast watch activities, beach inspections, photo or drawing competitions, nature reconstruction projects, recycling projects, green technology projects, etc. Training courses for teachers, people in charge of children groups, etc.
31. The local authority should encourage sustainable means of transportation (g) This criterion refers to all actions that Encourage public and collective transport Encourage bicycling roads, bike renting and facilities for bike parking Circulation plans to organise the traffic and reduce the peaks of traffic jam Development of pedestrian streets.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
32. A beach management committee must be established to be in charge of institute environmental management systems and conduct regular environmental audits of the beach facility (i) The beach management committee consists of all the relevant stakeholders on the local level: National tourism & environment authorities National water quality authorities National authorities in charge of national policies on ICZM and nature protection National marine associations National associations of local authorities and interests NGO’s representing environmental and community interests, including education National representative of the tourism trade National consumers’ association and safety boards
12 The beach management committee co-operates with the beach operator on instituting the environmental management systems and conducts regular environmental audits of the beach facility. The committee furthermore works together with the beach operator in to ensure compliance with other environmental management criteria.
33. Waste disposal and recycling bins/receptacles placed as needed for the beach size and capacity (i) Individual capacity, the number of users on the beach and how frequently the waste bins/receptacles are emptied determine numbers and minimum interval between bins/receptacles placed on or near the beach. Waste bins/receptacles must be emptied regularly. The frequency at which bins/receptacles are disposed of should be increased during peak tourist seasons.
The waste collected at the beach must be disposed of in a licensed facility approved by authorities on the basis of environmental requirements.
Recycling bins/receptacles for glass, plastic, cans, etc should be present, if there is a nearby recycling facility.
34. The entire length of the beach must be clean (i) On the beach, litter should not be allowed to accumulate, be hazardous or be unsightly. Personnel must be available to clean the beach on a regular schedule, having adequate cleaning equipment.
The cleaning of the beach can be either mechanical or manual depending on the size, appearance and fragility of the beach and its environment
35. On the beach there will be no unauthorised camping or driving and no dumping (i) No camping on the beach, unless when the camping is officially authorised in designated camping site areas based on zoning and load capacities. No parking is allowed on the beach.
36. Adequate and clean sanitary facilities with controlled sewage disposal (i) There must be sanitary toilet and shower facilities present at or near the beach. Toilets must be equipped with washbasins, soap and clean towels (paper or cloth) or dryer. The presence of changing rooms is encouraged.
13 The number of toilet facilities made available at the beach must reflect the average number of beach visitors during the peak periods of the season, the length of the beach and the number and location of major access points.
The frequency of cleaning and checking the toilet facilities must reflect the intensity of their use. Beaches with a fair number of daily visitors must have their toilets checked and cleaned every day.
FEE recommends the use of environmentally sound cleaning materials, soap and towels whenever possible.
Toilets should be of an appropriate design that does not contaminate the surrounding environment. Sewage from such facilities must not enter the ground or the sea untreated. It must be connected to the municipal sewer or have individual treatment and regularly emptied holding tanks that do not adversely affect the environment.
There should be facilities provided for disabled visitors (see criterion 22).
37. Environmental management of the beach taking into account sensitive species and habitats must be carefully planned and enforced (i) The beach must be managed in an environmentally friendly way, to protect sensitive species and habitats at the beach. The management can either take the form of zoning of the beach or with specific preventive actions.
Beaches used for turtle nesting must be without light or have appropriate light. There should be fixed places for raising umbrellas that do not damage the eggs in nesting sites.
Beaches with sensitive dune habitats must be managed in an environmentally friendly way, e.g. with protecting fences.
Information about the sensitive species and habitats should be given at the information board (see criterion 6).
38. The beach must comply with all regulations affecting the location and operation of the beach (i) The beach location and operation should be in compliance with relevant regulations and plans for the area (e.g. land use plan, environmental regulations, regulations controlling sewage/industrial effluent discharge, environmental health regulations, relating to conservation plans, operational permits and licenses, etc).
14 The beach operator must possess, and display (on the information board) the relevant beach license and other statutory permits.
39. All buildings and equipment of the beach must be properly maintained (i)
40. No access for any pets on the beach with the exception of dogs for blind people (i)
SAFETY AND SERVICES
41. An adequate number of trained lifeguards and lifesaving/first aid equipment must be available at the beach (i) It is strongly recommended that local planners undertake a risk assessment of the beach, if possible assisted by the appropriate national authority or body of expertise, and that an appropriate response strategy has been defined on its basis.
LIFEGUARDS An adequate number of trained lifeguards, with lifeguard stand, placed at an appropriate distance according to the beach characteristics and use. The regulatory lifesaving agencies for each country should determine the exact number of lifeguards needed. The number of lifeguards can vary over the year according to peak and low season.
Lifeguards must possess appropriate qualifications approved through an official lifesaving certificate from the national lifesaving accreditation institution.
Lifeguards should only be employed for this particular task and not in combination with duties such as water sport rentals and services, cleaning or other, unless there is more than one lifeguard on duty at the same time.
It is recommended that lifeguards wear uniforms that conform with the officially recognised red/yellow standard or other signage, making them easily recognisable on a crowded beach.
Bathing areas patrolled by lifeguards should be explicit. The area should be defined both on the map at information boards and physically on the beach with markers or flags. The following recognised flag zoning can be recommended: red = danger red/yellow = lifeguard patrolled areas
15 black/white = surfing only
An additional complementary flag system to warn of the condition of the sea has been adopted in many countries and follows the traffic light colour code. This system should only be used where there is guaranteed efficient and conscientious supervision: red = danger yellow = caution green = calm
All lifeguards must have appropriate lifesaving equipment available (see below).
Information about the period (time during the day, days during the week) where the lifeguards are present must be clearly marked on the beach information boards.
LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT Lifeguard equipment must include: stretcher, first aid kit, oxygen, whistle, blow horn/megaphone, floating device, rescue tube with line and motorized boat.
All equipment should be regularly inspected and must fulfil national guidelines.
If the lifesaving equipment is available for the beach visitors to use in case of emergency, the equipment must be accompanied by instructions for use and what to do in the case of a rescue.
It is recommended that a telephone (or radio) is available for emergency purposes less than 5 minutes walk from any part of the beach. This is especially important in remote areas. Such telephones/radios must be in working order. The numbers for the nearest emergency service must be displayed.
FIRST AID EQUIPMENT The first aid should either be available by way of a) a lifeguard on site, or b) manned first aid station with trained personnel, or c) equipment located in a shop or other beach facilities at the beach, or d) directly available to the public on the beach.
First-aid facilities can be manned or in the form of easily accessible equipment. It is strongly recommended that busy beaches and family beaches have manned first-aid stations. First-aid personnel must of course have appropriate qualifications.
First-aid stations or the location of first-aid equipment must be clearly sign-posted for easy location by beach visitors.
16 Times of availability of first-aid equipment, and alternative out-of-season arrangements should be displayed at the information board.
42. There must be management of different users and uses of the beach so as to prevent conflicts and accidents (i) Beaches that support multiple activities should have clearly demarcated areas for the different activities both on land and sea. The zoning between activities should be clearly marked with e.g. buoys, etc. Information about the zoning must furthermore be clearly indicated on the map at the information board and at other relevant places.
Powerboats and other powered crafts should be operating at least 100-200 metres from swimming areas (distance to be determined by the local regulatory agency). Patrons who operate powered crafts should be provided with an orientation on the use of the craft and the location of the zones.
Specific areas for eating and cooking must be marked and zoned.
43. An internationally recognized warning system for environmental pollution safety risks must be in place (i) An emergency management plan must be produced covering a clearly identified procedure, aiming to be efficient in case of an emergency, in order to quickly tackle pollution at the local level, in co-ordination with local authorities: - Identification of the people to contact in case of pollution (a responsible local person must be designated) - Involvement of all administration services and people necessary to intervene (specification of who does what) - Procedure for the protection or evacuation of people if necessary - Procedure of public warning and information
The public should be informed of pollution or potential danger. Public warning consists in all measures for the prevention of people going swimming in visibly or non-visibly polluted water. Such warning should be given, in priority and imperatively, on site, through announcements or signs on the beach, and at tourist offices as long as the hazard persists. Furthermore, the
17 warning could also be given through the public media. The Blue Flag must be withdrawn from the beach as a warning during such emergency events.
The beach should conduct the relevant simulation exercise(s) at least once a year, depending on the risk.
44. Access for disabled persons should be provided to the beach and the beach toilet facilities (i) Where needed, access to the beach should be facilitated by access ramps adapted to users with various disabilities. If possible, access to the water is recommended.
Prohibitive circumstances i.e. where access ramps cannot be provided, are where the topography does not allow for it (e.g. steep cliffs or easily eroding coast that cannot support access ramps, etc). If the beach cannot provide access ramps for the disabled, the reason why must be documented.
Toilet facilities should be designed for wheelchair and other disabled users. Access should comply with the ISO Standard Code for Access for the disabled to buildings.
In addition, it is recommended that parking areas whenever provided should have reserved spaces for disabled person’s parking.
The beach must comply with all national regulations regarding access and facilities for disabled persons.
45. There must be easy and safe access to the beach (i) Easily accessible public right of way should be reserved for all bathing beaches. Private beaches are eligible for Blue Flag if public access is provided within reasonable limits.
There must be adequate parking areas and traffic control systems in connection with the beach.
It must furthermore be safe to stay at the beach. If needed, adequate security personnel must be available at the beach. There must be adequate lighting controls and adequate emergency procedures.
46. An adequate supply of potable drinking water (g) The water source, whether from a fountain, pipe, etc must be protected from animals.
B LUE F L AG C ARI BBE AN CONSORTIUM (BFCC): the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA) and the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism / Caribbean Hotel Association (CAST/CHA) 18 Caribbean Blue Flag Campaign (CBFC) Pilot Beach Criteria Proposed amendments to the Caribbean Blue Flag Water Quality Criteria made at the 3rd Meeting of Caribbean Co- ordinators held in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, March 13th and 14th, 2003
Water Quality for Beaches:
o Minimum of 2 sampling points per Blue Flag beach
o All samples must be taken every 14 days during the dry season and every 7 days during the wet season
o Total coliforms will not be required anymore
o Faecal coliforms will be kept as imperative criterion
o Faecal streptococci will be included as voluntary criterion (with the indication that at the next revision of the Caribbean beach criteria, this requirement will become imperative)
o Limit values for faecal streptococci has to be determined (40 / 100 ml was proposed)
o Conversion factor between percentage below a limit and the geometric value will be included in the guidance notes (if they are given by PAHO)
o Nitrogen and phosphorous (indicators of protection of coral reefs) are taken out of the bathing water quality criterion and placed in a new criterion for Coral Reefs Conservation.
A new criterion on the monitoring of the status of nearby coral reefs will be included in the beach criteria. The new criterion will include a quality (instead of quantity) monitoring of the status of the nearby coral reefs. The guidance notes will furthermore indicate how near a coral reef should be to a Blue Flag beach in order for the criterion to be taken into account. The Blue Flag Co-ordination and CBFC will discuss the exact content of the criterion with coral reef specialists.
The minimum number of environmental education activities will be increased from 3 to 5.
After the meeting, PAHO presented the following proposal for Water Quality parameters:
19 Table 1: PROPOSED CARIBBEAN BLUE FLAG WATER QUALITY CRITERIA BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS
Parameter Standard Total Coliform <250/100 ml in minimum 75% of samples taken over a period of a year Faecal Coliform <100/100 ml in minimum 75% of samples taken over a period of a year Must be <400/100 ml in any sample
20