Nearly half of the beach areas in the Azores, which are entitled to fly the Blue Flag this year, have already flown the symbol of quality and safety. The remaining areas will fly the Blue Flag until the end of the month.

The information was provided by the Regional Secretary for the Environment and the Sea during the hoisting ceremony of the Blue Flag at the Cinco Ribeiras port on Wednesday, an event that was also attended by the Mayor of the Angra do Heroísmo City Hall.
 
Álamo Meneses stressed the efforts undertaken by the City Halls to comply with the necessary requirements for flying the Blue Flag in the beach areas under their administration, particularly in terms of safety, by reinforcing the presence of lifeguards and the means of assistance.

The Secretary also reminded the recent publication of legislation on the use of beach areas which, in addition to other aspects, has led to creation of a web page containing the results of the tests conducted on beach waters, providing citizens with the possibility of making an informed choice regarding beach areas. 

On the other hand, Álamo Meneses alerted for the danger signs placed in various unstable areas, advising against the use of these areas for beach use or other activities.

Furthermore, the Under Secretary of Fishing also presided over the hoisting ceremony of the Blue Flag in Prainha in Praia da Vitória on Wednesday.

37 beach areas and marinas in the Azores have been distinguished with a Blue Flag award by the International Coordination of the Portuguese applications for the 2011 Blue Flag Programme.

This figure represents an increase of five beach areas awarded with a Blue Flag in the Archipelago, making up a total of 33.
The areas distinguished with the Blue Flag on the island of São Miguel are the following: Caloura and Lagoa beach area in Lagoa; Milícias and Pópulo beaches, Poços de S. Vicente Ferreira and Poças Sul dos Mosteiros in Ponta Delgada; Areal de Santa Bárbara in Ribeira Grande; Vinha d’Areia, Prainha de Água d’Alto, Corpo Santo and Água d’Alto in Vila Franca do Campo and Praia do Fogo (beach) in Povoação.

On the island of Terceira, the distinguished beach areas are: Cinco Ribeiras, Negrito, Silveira, Salga, Praínha and Baía do Refugo in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo; Escaleiras, Praínha, Praia Grande, Porto Martins, Biscoitos beach area and Praia da Riviera in the municipality Praia da Vitória.
The Almoxarife beach, Varadouro and Porto Pim, located in the municipality of Horta, are the selected areas on the island of Faial.
The remaining beach areas distinguished with the Blue Flag award are: Anjos, Formosa beach and Maia on Santa Maria Island; Calheta and Praia on Graciosa Island, and Preguiça on São Jorge Island.
With regard to marinas, the Blue Flag was awarded to the marinas of Horta, Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroísmo and Vila Franca do Campo.

In the 25 years of the European Blue Flag Association, this distinction is annually awarded to beaches and marinas that meet a set of criteria in the area of environment, safety and user comfort, environmental information and awareness.