Experts urge Morocco to build on “blue flag” milestone with stronger environmental action

Environmental experts have welcomed Morocco’s growing list of eco-certified beaches and recreational sites, but say more must be done to ensure lasting environmental impact beyond international recognition.

This year, 33 sites across the country, including 28 beaches, four marinas, and, for the first time, a mountain lake, have received the Blue Flag.

The Blue Flag label, granted by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), is considered one of the highest international standards for clean and safe coastal spaces.

In Morocco, the program has been implemented since 2002 through the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection’s “Clean Beaches” initiative. The country now ranks 21st globally in terms of certified sites and leads the Arab region.

The newest additions include Soul Beach in the Tangier-Asilah region and Lake Aguelmam Azegza, a natural site located in the Khénifra National Park, which now becomes Morocco’s first inland lake to earn the certification.

For Ayoub Krirar, a researcher in sustainable development and president of Oxygène Association for Environment and Health, the recognition reflects “important progress,” but not one without limitations.

“Achieving 33 Blue Flag sites is a positive sign of Morocco’s ongoing engagement in sustainable tourism,” Krirar told Hespress Ar. “However, it’s still below what civil society has been pushing for, especially in terms of basic infrastructure and public sanitation along many other neglected beaches.”

He noted that dozens of Morocco’s popular beaches still lack essential services such as restrooms, lifeguard stations, and waste collection systems, even during peak summer months. “Environmental tourism doesn’t thrive on labels alone,” he added. “It needs sustained, inclusive investment.”

Mohamed Benata, an ecologist and coordinator of the Northern Morocco Environmental Coalition, echoed the call for a stronger national approach to sustainability, not just from institutions, but also from citizens.

He warned that even well-maintained beaches risk falling below standard if beachgoers aren’t involved in protecting them. “You can’t clean up a beach every day if thousands are littering it every hour. What’s missing is a culture of shared responsibility.”

Benata also pointed to Morocco’s many unrecognized natural gems that, with better management, could join the ranks of Blue Flag sites.

“There’s incredible potential, stunning lakes, wetlands, and coastal stretches that remain overlooked,” he said. “But they won’t thrive without long-term environmental planning and local buy-in.”