In March 2017, Puerto Peñasco received the honor of obtaining Clean Beach Certification for a 1500 meter lineal stretch of coastline extending from Playa Bonita Hotel to Las Palomas on Sandy Beach. This September, a second environmental audit is planned to corroborate upholding of Mexican Beach Sustainability Norms. Yet, what’s Clean Beach Certification?
Twelve things you need to know about Sandy Beach’s certification as a Clean Beach
Here are some worthwhile points to know about the process of certification and what it means for the area:
- It is the first certified clean beach in the state of Sonora.
- Sonora was the only coastal state not to have clean beach certification in Mexico
- Puerto Peñasco sought certification for 1500 lineal meters of coastline, meaning this is the longest stretch certified as a clean beach in the entire country.
- The auditing body analyzed dozens of reagents, requirements, and details such as carbon particles left after fires, which is now actually prohibited in this area.
- As part of the Clean Beach terms, vehicles and horses are prohibited in the certified area to maintain safety of visitors.
- Walking pets along the certified clean beach is permitted as long as owners keep pets on a leash and pick up after them.
- Every hotel complex included within the certified beach area has installed three garbage/recycling deposits.
- Visitors are responsible for their waste in helping to keep the beach clean.
- To achieve certification, more than 100 water tests and samples were taken from the area, which provided nearly perfect results, well under permitted bacteria norms.
- Currently, there are 3 lifeguard towers placed at strategic positions along the coastline.
- There exists a realm of tourism that specifically seeks out “Clean Beach” certified beaches.
- Required public beach access via condominium complexes is one of the points not yet resolved, as the majority of complexes do not allow easy public access to their properties.