The Blue Flag is a European environmental promotion award promoted by the European Foundation for Environmental Education, a non-governmental environmental organisation, which is represented by the Regional Government of the Azores. This award distinguishes the beach areas that with excellent bathing water, lifeguards, environmental concerns, including the promotion of environmental education activities, and support systems for beach users.

This year, 32 blue flags will be hoisted, which represents one more than last year. Although 33 flags were awarded in 2011, two beach areas did not fly their award. The growing concern with the environment and its certification is recognised by ABAE, the national counterpart of EFEE, which has selected the Municipality of Lake to fly symbolically the first blue flag in the Azores.

Over fifty bathing waters in the Azores make up "the List of Identified Bathing Waters." This list was created in accordance to the provision of regional legislation. There is an entity responsible for the management of bathing water quality in the Azores, thus ensuring a continuous monitoring of water quality. According to the regional legislation on this matter, the List is annually submitted to the European Union. It is intended to be fairly stable in order to allow structuring investments to support its sustainable use.

The list of Portuguese beaches awarded with "Quality Gold" by the Non-Governmental Environmental Organisation – Quercus was released on Friday. This award acknowledges the excellent quality of bathing waters. This year, 43 beach areas were distinguished in the Azores, three more than last year. Hence, the Azores beach areas make up 15% of the list containing the beach areas distinguished with "Gold Quality." The current list is led by Algarve with 24%.

According to the Quercus organisation, contrary to the Azores, there was a significant decrease of beaches with excellent quality in Mainland Portugal compared to the previous bathing season, dropping from 95% to 85% in the case of coastal beaches.

Bathing water quality is annually assessed by Quercus in accordance with criteria defined by Community legislation. In order to receive this award, bathing waters are required to have been classified with the highest level of quality during the five previous bathing seasons.

Beach areas may also be distinguished for their accessibility. The "Accessible Beach - Beaches for All" award ensures that the beach area has the necessary conditions to make it accessible for citizens with disabilities. This year, fifteen beach areas were distinguished in the Azores by the National Institute for Rehabilitation, one more than in 2011.
 
Bearing in mind this concern, the Azores were distinguished with the QualityCoast award this year, which recognises the best areas in Europe regarding the quality and environmental sustainability of coastal tourism.

These initiatives are coordinated by the Regional Government, but the work is done by local authorities and other management entities in collaboration with the maritime authorities. These awards are the result of the joint work carried out by several organisations in favour of the Azores.