'Blue Flag' Award to 9 Beaches of Kocaeli

While the Metropolitan Municipality is proud to offer safe, clean and healthy swimming areas to its citizens, the International Blue Flag Jury has awarded the "Blue Flag" award to 9 beaches in Kocaeli this year.

Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality's environmental investments continue to bear fruit. Finally, the "2025 Blue Flag Awards" were announced by the International Blue Flag Jury and 9 beaches in Kocaeli were given the "Blue Flag" award.

THE METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF BLUE FLAGS EVERY YEAR

Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality continues its efforts to protect the Marmara Sea with all its devotion. Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, which received its first blue flag in 2012 with Karamürsel Altınkemer Public Beach as a result of its efforts to clean the Gulf of İzmit, has increased the number of blue flag beaches each year in the following years. The Metropolitan Municipality has also successfully ensured the sustainability of all the awards it has received.

BLUE FLAG AWARD WAS GIVEN TO 9 BEACHES IN KOCAELI

The International Blue Flag Jury has announced the 2025 “Blue Flag” awards. This year, 577 beaches, 29 marinas, 18 tourism boats and 8 individual yachts in Türkiye were deemed worthy of the Blue Flag award. With this success, Turkey maintained its 3rd place in the world after Spain and Greece. As a result of the announcement of the 2025 Blue Flag awards by the International Blue Flag Jury; Altinkemer Public Beach and Eregli Kumyali Public Beach in the Karamursel district, as well as Cebeci, Kerpe, Bagirganli, Kumcagiz, Mico Kadinlar, Kovanagzi and Seyrek beaches in the Kandira district, a total of 9 beaches were awarded the “Blue Flag”.

A GIANT CLEANING PROJECT IS BEING CARRIED OUT FOR THE GULF

Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality carries out important work not only in coastal services but also in the depths of our sea for the sustainability of the Blue Flag success. In this context, with the İzmit Bay Bottom Mud Cleaning Project, one of the largest environmental cleaning projects in Europe, 2024 million cubic meters of bottom mud were removed from the Gulf in 1,1. With this work, pollution on the seabed was reduced, water quality was improved and the revival of the gulf ecosystem was aimed.

THE SEAS ARE PROTECTED AND MONITORED 7/24

On the other hand, Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality; 7 days 24 hours inspection activities, scientific monitoring studies, efforts to combat marine litter, studies to protect and increase biological diversity such as fish introduction, artificial reef and biodiversity monitoring, and environmental awareness studies are being carried out with determination in order to protect our seas. The Metropolitan Municipality; continues to work to leave an environmentally sensitive, sustainable and livable sea for future generations. Metropolitan, Blue Bayraklı It is proud to offer its citizens safe, clean and healthy swimming areas with its beaches.

FEATURES OF BLUE FLAG BEACHES

The Blue Flag, an international environmental award given to qualified beaches, marinas and yachts that meet the required standards, is the symbol of a clean, well-maintained, well-equipped, safe and therefore civilized environment, and is also the most well-known and used award program in the international arena and the tourism sector. For beaches; The Blue Flag, which prioritizes clean sea water and then environmental education and information, represents a good environmental management with the necessary equipment.

THERE ARE 33 DIFFERENT CRITERIA FOR BEACHES

The Blue Flag program, which is implemented in more than 50 countries around the world and coordinated by the Foundation For Environmental Education (FEE), headquartered in Copenhagen, and in our country by the Turkish Environmental Education Foundation (TÜRÇEV), has 33 separate criteria for beaches, and it is mandatory for beaches that receive an award to have a certified Beach Blue Flag Representative who ensures that these Blue Flag criteria are met correctly.