The “Blue Flag” label, awarded by the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment and the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), was raised on Wednesday at Bouznika beach for the 19th consecutive year.
Bouznika beach received this Eco-label thanks to the civic involvement of the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) in the “Clean Beaches” program, led by the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, with the theme for the 2025 edition focused on combating plastic waste in seas and oceans.
On this occasion, an official ceremony was organized to celebrate the raising of the Blue Flag on this beach, attended by the Secretary General of the Benslimane province prefecture, representatives from the Bouznika municipality, civil society, and officials from ONEE.
In this context, the head of the local communication service at ONEE, Wafaa Hafid, emphasized that this distinction is the result of joint efforts from several partners, including the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, ONEE, and the Benslimane province prefecture.
She stated in a press declaration that ONEE’s commitment within the “Clean Beaches” program is part of the Office’s strategy to raise citizens’ awareness about environmental preservation and sustainable development, noting that an educational village has been set up on Bouznika beach, offering collective games, painting and sand sculpture workshops, sports competitions (water sports and sand sports), and theatrical performances on environmental themes.
Ms. Hafid also indicated that the Office has installed a library equipped with books on various topics, as well as a designated area to facilitate access to reading for vacationers and thus promote learning, particularly in the environmental field.
She highlighted that ONEE also organizes several cultural, artistic, and sporting activities, including awareness-raising actions aimed at encouraging vacationers to preserve the environment and protect seas and oceans from plastic pollution. This includes organizing waste collection campaigns, selective sorting workshops, and educational presentations aimed at raising awareness among holidaymakers about reducing plastic use and protecting the coastline from this long-decomposing material.
The “Blue Flag” label is an international reference in the field of beach site quality, awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to distinguish beach sites that meet quality and safety criteria.
Obtaining this label requires upgrading the candidate site by fulfilling a number of criteria, particularly in the areas of hygiene, cleanliness, and safety, as well as raising awareness about sustainable development and sports, cultural, and artistic activities. Its renewal depends on maintaining and continuously improving the achievements based on an annual reassessment by FEE of the state of the beneficiary beaches.
ONEE’s commitment to the national “Clean Beaches” program is part of the Office’s strategy aimed at environmental preservation and contributing to sustainable development.
This commitment has been recognized with several awards for Bouznika beach: “Lalla Hasnaa Sustainable Coast Trophy in 2022, 2018, and 2016,” “Initiative Trophy in 2011, 2009, and 2007,” and “Innovation Trophy in 2008 and 2003.”
