This ceremony was marked by the presence of the governor of the Province of Benslimane, Samir El Yazidi, representatives of the Municipality of Bouznika, the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment and civil society as well as officials from the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE).
Bouznika beach has obtained this Eco-label for the 18th consecutive year since 2007 thanks to ONEE’s citizen involvement in the ”Clean Beaches” program piloted by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, whose The theme of the 2024 edition is focused on the fight against plastic waste in the seas and oceans.
The ”Blue Flag” label is an international reference in the field of the quality of seaside sites, issued by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to distinguish seaside sites which meet the criteria of quality and security.
In terms of the development and maintenance of the facilities, the Office has set up sanitary blocks, entertainment facilities, first aid centers, open-air showers, drinking fountains and a space for people with specific needs, including pagodas, tables and parasols.
ONEE also ensures the daily cleaning of the beach and its environment, the supply of selective sorting bins placed all along the beach, as well as the cleaning of Oued Saikouk as part of environmental protection. .
In the area of awareness-raising and education for sustainable development, the Office has developed a rich program to raise awareness of climate change and the protection of the oceans against plastic pollution.
This program aims to raise awareness among summer visitors of the importance of protecting the environment and teach them environmentally responsible behaviors to adopt on a daily basis.
At the same time, an entertainment program is provided daily at the ONEE educational village at Bouznika beach including group games, painting and sand sculpture workshops, sports competitions (water sports and sand sports) and environmental plays.
In order to further promote awareness of this beach, ONEE set up this year two local centers intended for the organization of educational, recreational, sporting, cultural and artistic activities.
Furthermore, the Office has set up a library at Bouznika beach as well as a designated space to facilitate summer visitors’ access to reading and thus promote learning, particularly in the environmental field. A way to combine business with pleasure.
Regarding signage, awareness panels and orientation signs were installed at Bouznika beach, in particular for people with specific needs, as well as a giant screen and an interactive terminal to provide summer visitors with digital awareness tools and dynamic displays.
Other actions are carried out in the field of controlling the quality of bathing water through the strengthening of monitoring of the quality of bathing water at Bouznika beach throughout the summer period.
ONEE’s commitment to the national ”Clean Beaches” program is part of the Office’s strategy aimed at preserving the environment and contributing to the sustainable development of our country.
A commitment that has been rewarded many times by the award to Bouznika beach of the Lalla Hasnaa Sustainable Littoral trophy (2016-2018-2022) and the “initiative” prize (2007-2009-2011) as well as the innovation in 2003 and 2008.
For Zakaria Kartit, head of the communications department at ONEE, the hoisting of the Blue Flag at Bouznika beach for the 18th consecutive year is the consecration of the efforts undertaken by the Office as part of the “Clean Beaches” program. ‘, which program coincides this year with the national awareness campaign on water stress.
And to add that ONEE has set up a rich program with the aim of raising awareness through the creation of an educational village on the cleanliness of beaches and the need to rationalize water resources.
For his part, Wafa Hafid, head of local communications at ONEE, underlined that the hoisting of the Blue Flag crowns the efforts of the office in favor of the cleanliness of Bouznika beach and the quality of bathing waters. , reporting a vast program in favor of the development of this beach for the great comfort of summer visitors.
In this regard, he indicated that the Office has set up an educational village including several workshops relating, among other things, to gardening, water sports, environmental education as well as a beach library.
On this last note, she announced that ONEE has set up for the first time a digital library to keep up to date.
For his part, the president of the Bouznika municipal council, Tarik El Khiari affirmed that the award of this coveted Blue Flag to Bouznika beach is a reason for pride and also a recognition of the quality of the bathing waters, estimating that it is not a question of resting on one’s laurels and that on the contrary it is appropriate to redouble our efforts to maintain this achievement.
A Blue Flag which is also the crowning achievement of the efforts undertaken by the municipality in partnership with its partners, he noted.
In turn, Hamid Zouhari, responsible for water quality at ONEE (Central Region Directorate), assured that the office monitors water quality regularly all year round, adding that the laboratory analyzes carried out confirmed the good quality of the bathing water at Bouznika beach, thus allowing it to retain its Blue Flag.
This ceremony was marked by the performance of a play on the importance of preserving the environment and collective mobilization in favor of clean beaches, in addition to the presentation of gifts and medals to children who participated in contests and competitions organized at Bouznika beach.
The international Blue Flag label, awarded annually since 2022 by the Mohammed VI Foundation for environmental protection, chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, will float in 2024 on 27 beaches, four marinas and, for the first time in Morocco, on a mountain lake.
The Blue Flag beaches are all part of the Clean Beaches program, which brings together more than a hundred beaches, mainly the busiest in the country. 66 local authorities, supported by their supervisory authorities, the General Directorate of Local Authorities, all administrations concerned with coastal management, 26 economic partners and more than a hundred local associations will mobilize for nearly three months to raise awareness and educate summer visitors, ensure the quality of bathing water and sand, equip the beaches, ensure safety and health coverage, and enforce order and regulations.
Its renewal is dependent on the maintenance and continuous improvement of achievements on the basis of an annual re-evaluation by the International Foundation for Environmental Education which established this Blue Flag in 1978.