English 
Português 
Deutsch 
Español 
The European Blue Flag Association, attributed this Thursday, a total of 26 "blue flags" to Madeira Island, totaling 16 awarded beaches, three marinas and seven ecotourism vessels.
Blue Flag beaches in Funchal include Barreirinha, Lido Pool Complex, Clube Naval do Funchal, Ponta Gorda, and Praia Formosa Beach. Outside of the capital, there are the pebble beaches of Reis Magos, and Palmeira in Santa Cruz. Machico is home to the beaches of Ribeira do Natal and Banda d'Além. Ribeira do Faial beach in Santana, Ribeira Brava, Porto Moniz Natural Rock Pools, and Calheta Beach were all awarded the blue flag.
Porto Santo Island has three blue-flag beaches: Cabeço da Ponta, Fontinha, and Ribeiro Salgado.
According to the Regional Secretary of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Susana Prada, these awards "are the result of the work of several entities, namely, the Regional Government that, together with the local authorities and population, has put in place measures that lead to the improvement of bathing water quality".
In statements to the Diário de Notícias of Madeira, the governor assumes that defined "a strategy to combat marine pollution", and that is "to intervene in the sewage networks of the five municipalities members of ARM". On the other hand, Susana Prada points out that "we have conducted numerous awareness campaigns among the population, since each of us must exercise an active citizenship" and, "the result is in sight and it is with satisfaction that this year Madeira shows 26 blue flags," praised the responsible for the Environment.
Recall that the Blue Flag Program, aims at education for sustainable development and is promoted in Portugal by the Blue Flag Association of Europe (ABAE), Portuguese section of the Foundation for Environmental Education.
This award, "aims to educate for sustainable development in coastal beaches, river and lake, marinas and recreational and ecotourism vessels" and is "a symbol of quality that distinguishes the effort of various entities in making possible the coexistence of local development along with respect for the environment, raising the level of awareness of citizens in general, and decision-makers in particular, for the need to protect the marine, coastal and lake environments," reveals the ABAE.
