Date Published: 12/05/2021
ARCHIVED - 26 Blue Flags for Costa Cálida beaches but Mar Menor remains flagless
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
Águilas and Mazarrón lead the way after five years without Blue Flags in the Mar Menor
Since the coronavirus pandemic reached Europe early last year the condition of Spain’s beaches has been of secondary importance among the problems concerning those involved in the tourism sector, but with all the signs indicating that international travel is likely to resume to at least some degree during the summer of 2021 it is encouraging that the number of beaches in this country flying the prestigious Blue Flag to denote quality has risen from 590 to 615.
In the Costa Cálida the figure remains unchanged at 26, meaning that for the fifth year in a row none of the beaches on the shore of the Mar Menor are included: they were dropped from the list when the level of concern over the deterioration in the marine environment rose in 2017. Those where the Blue Flag will again be hoisted this summer are the following (listed by the municipalities in which they are located):
Águilas (9): Calarreona, La Carolina, La Casica Verde, La Colonia, La Higuerica, Las Delicias, Levante, Matalentisco and Poniente
Mazarrón (8): El Alamillo, Bahía, Mojón, Puerto, Grande-Castellar, Nares, Percheles and Rihuete
Cartagena (6): Cala Cortina, Isla Plana, La Azohía-El Cuartel, La Chapineta (La Azohía), Levante (Cabo de Palos) and San Ginés (La Azohía)
Lorca (1): Calnegre
San Javier (1): Ensenada del Esparto
San Pedro del Pinatar (1): El Mojón
At the same time the 6 Blue Flags at marinas are also renewed, two of them in Águilas (the Club Náutico and the Puerto Deportivo Juan Montiel), two in Mazarrón (the Club de Regatas and the Puerto Deportivo) and one each in San Pedro del Pinatar (Marina Salinas) and Cartagena (the Real Club de Regatas).
In addition, there are “Sendero Azul” awards for the port of Cartagena, the “Camina 10.000 pasos” footpath in and around La Manga and Cabo de Palos, the “De Iglesia a Iglesia” ecotourism path between La Azohía and Isla Plana, and the Las Salinas visitors centre and the Senda de los Tarays path in San Pedro del Pinatar.
Meanwhile, the condition of some of the beaches in the Mar Menor remains far from perfect, and the regional health authorities advise against bathing in Los Urrutias, Estrella de Mar and Los Nietos on account of the mud which has accumulated along the shore of the lagoon. The water quality is described as “excellent”, however, and work is under way to clear the shore as soon as possible.
Image: Playa del Mojón (Mazarrón)