This past week, various beaches across Puerto Peñaco received national and international recognition, including distinction as home to the longest stretch of certified sustainable clean beach in Mexico.
Blue Flag Certification
For a second year in a row, 76 meters of beach in front of Manny’s Beach Club in the Mirador received international “Blue Flag” certification. The international Blue Flag recognition, presented by Joaquín Arturo Díaz Ríos of the Environmental Education Foundation (FEE) Mexico, continues to distinguish Puerto Peñasco as the only coastline in Sonora to have received this distinction, along with 92 certified Blue Flag beaches in the country.
Puerto Peñasco is home to two Level II Certified Sustainable Clean Beaches
During the Aug. 13th ordinary session of the Puerto Peñasco Clean Beach Committee, two stretches of the city’s beaches received Level II Clean Sustainable Beach Certification. A stretch of 1788 lineal meters of coastline along Sandy Beach, stretching from Playa Bonita Hotel to Phase III of Las Palomas received renewed certification, while 2,302 lineal meters in front of Islas del Mar becomes the longest stretch of certified clean beach in the country.
Omri Flores Sánchez, Project Chair of the Northwest Basin of the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), expressed his appreciation to the local administration, hotel and resort developers along the certified beaches, efforts of the local office of the Federal Maritime Land Zone (ZOFEMAT), and the Clean Beach Committee, among others, for determined actions to achieve and maintain clean beach certification. He added this is the only destination in Sonora to hold such distinction, recalling efforts toward obtaining clean beach certification began locally in 2013, with the first part of Sandy Beach achieving certification in 2017.
Islas del Mar Beach Certification
Following presentation of the official clean beach certifications, officials and organizers made their way to Islas del Mar for a raising of the flag over the newly certified clean beach.
The low-tide at Islas del Mar extended out well over a mile into the Sea of Cortez as those gathered observed raising of the flag, certifying 2302 lineal meters (nearly 1.5 miles) of sustainable clean beach hugging the pristine shore just northwest of the city center.
Speaking on behalf of Islas del Mar, marine biologist Tonatiuh Carrillo Lammens detailed this achievement for what is deemed a “living sanctuary” was a result of the tremendous efforts of collaborators and owners at Islas del Mar, ZOFEMAT, the Municipal Clean Beach Committee, the local administration, and many who have supported cleaning and caring for this beautiful beach.
