Flag-Raising Ceremony Attended by Bahamas Officials
The Blue Flag officially flies over Bimini Sands Marina, making it one of only four marinas in The Bahamas – and the only marina on Bimini – to have earned this prestigious environmental emblem. Presented by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an international nonprofit and non-governmental organization, the Blue Flag is the highest award a marina can attain for environmental stewardship, education and safety. Bimini Sands Marina received its Blue Flag certification in September 2013 after a rigorous application and inspection process.
The Blue Flag-raising ceremony, held in January, was attended by some of The Bahamas’ top dignitaries, including Earlston McPhee, Director of Sustainable Tourism in the Ministry of Tourism, who was the guest speaker. Also attending were Prescott Young, Head of Bimini Ministry of Tourism; Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, Executive Director of Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF); Oscar Monroe, Bimini Island Administrator, and members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
Frank Cooney, President and CEO of the Bimini Sands Resort & Marina, said: “Keeping our marina, our resort, our island, and the beautiful clear water surrounding it pristine and environmentally sustainable is a top priority for us here at Bimini Sands. We are proud of all the hard work that our marina staff and Bimini Sands Activities Co-Directors Katie Grudecki and Grant Johnson, have put into earning this prestigious award.”
The Blue Flag is a voluntary “eco-label” that is awarded to marinas around the world based on their compliance with 24 criteria covering Environmental Education & Information, Water Quality, Environmental Management, Safety and Services. The Blue Flag has been awarded to select beaches and marinas in 48 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada and the Caribbean.
In addition to earning a Blue Flag, Bimini Sands Marina was the first marina in the world to become a certified Shark-Free Marina, aiding in the preservation of endangered shark species. Bimini Sands also offers a wide range of eco-tours including scuba diving; snorkeling excursions; kayak, paddleboard and boat rentals; wild dolphin swims; stingray feeds; shark encounters, and more.