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Clean Coasts' Big Beach Clean 2015
Join the world's largest coastal cleanup
Clean Coasts' Big Beach Clean is taking place on the weekend of the 18th, 19th & 20th of September all over Ireland. Clean Coasts is once again teaming up with the International Ocean Conservancy for the International Coastal Cleanup event. Last year 560,000 volunteers in 91 countries removed 7,257 tonnes of marine litter from the world's oceans.
Each year millions of tonnes of marine litter enter our seas and oceans, resulting in environmental, economic, health and aesthetic challenges. Clean Coasts are inviting volunteers to join this global coastal clean-up helping remove marine litter from our beautiful coastline and in turn protecting our coastal habitats and marine life.
103 clean-ups took place in Ireland during the 2014 Big Beach Clean, involving 1,442 volunteers who removed an amazing 33,442 pieces of litter.
For more information on the Clean Coasts programme please check out our website: www.cleancoasts.org
W: www.blueflagireland.com
W: http://www.cleancoastsireland.org/
Below is a map of Mayo's Beaches, 10 of which are Blue Flag certified.
The 28th anniversary of the Blue Flag Awards which began in France in 1987 took place on 28th May, 2015 on Ballinskelligs Beach in Co. Kerry with the Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government, Mr Alan Kelly, TD presenting a total of 144 awards for Blue Flags and Green Coasts.
Of the 86 Blue Flags and 58 Green Coasts awarded, Mayo has received 12 Blue Flags for the following beaches:
Elly Bay Mullaghroe Golden Strand Clare Island
Dugort Keel Carrowmore Dooega
Keem Ross Bertra Mulranny
with the 8 Green Coasts awarded to:
White Strand Carrowniskey Cross, Belmullet
Termon Srah Portacloy Cross, Louisburgh
Silver Strand,
Blue Flag Background
The Blue Flag scheme for beaches has been one of the main drivers for better quality bathing waters over the last 27 years because it provides an instantly recognisable badge of high status for beaches. The campaign which flies in 46 countries worldwide aims to raise awareness and promote good environmental behaviour among visitors to the beaches and best practice among beach and marina management and staff.
The criteria required to attain Blue Flag status are designed to work with the legislation in each country. This ensures that the legislation is being followed, or in some cases, the Blue Flag sets a higher benchmark than that which already exists. The Blue Flag inIrelandis administered by An Taisce on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education (F.E.E.).
An application for each beach must be made every year by the authority managing the beach. An international jury then decides if the beach merits the award which is decided upon by meeting the following criteria:-
(a) Water Quality
(b) Environmental Information and education
(c) Safety and Services
(d) Environmental management
(a) Water Quality
Water sampling for this season commenced on 26th May, 2014. Sampling will continue each week over the bathing season which runs from the beginning of June to the end August. The results are publicised on the notice boards situated at each beach.
(b) Environmental Education & Information
(c) Safety & Services
(d) Environmental Management & Facilities
Green Coast Background
The Green Coast Award acknowledges beaches which meet EC bathing water quality standards, but which are also prized for their natural, unspoiled environment. A "natural, unspoilt environment" means that the special character of such a beach may not be compatible with the level of infrastructure and intensive management generally associated with more urban, traditional seaside resort beaches. Green Coast Award beaches demonstrate clean water and sound environmental management
The Award is objective-led, which encourages 'best practice' in management of rural beaches and emphasises community involvement in their management.
Clean Coasts is a coastal environmental programme where voluntary 'Coastcare groups' organise coastal clean ups, eliminate 'eyesores', improve facilities, report incidents and tackle environmental problems both small and large. These groups along with this Council manage stretches of Co. Mayo coastline very efficiently.
The Green Coast Award, rolled out in 2008 is designed to complement the Blue Flag programme. Clean Coasts is a coastal environmental programme, where voluntary 'Coastcare groups' organise coastal clean ups, eliminate 'eyesores' and report incidents.
Beach Bye Laws for Mayo
Formats Available:
Environment Section
Second Floor
Mayo County Council
The Mall
Co Mayo
Phone: (094) 9047440
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Open: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Greening Mayo
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