Beach
Beach Certification
Protecting coastal habitats and checking bathing-water quality. Managing waste, providing safety measures and accessible facilities, and respecting local communities and workers’ rights.
Certification for beach management, covering bathing water, habitats, visitor facilities and community access.
About the certification
A beach is a place for recreation and a habitat for wildlife. Friend of the Sea assesses how the beach is managed, from waste collection and water quality to visitor behaviour and the protection of nearby ecosystems.
For beach managers, certification provides a framework for checking daily operations. For visitors, it identifies a defined beach area assessed against environmental and social criteria.
What can be certified
Beach areas and the management arrangements, facilities and services included in the assessment. Identify the location and boundaries when applying.
What the standard covers
Bathing water must meet national criteria, with regular testing and publicly displayed information. Untreated residential or industrial discharges must not affect the beach. Pollution prevention and emergency plans must be in place
Protect existing ecosystems and monitor nearby sensitive habitats. Retain natural debris and algae unless removal is officially authorised. Display specific conduct rules where nesting, breeding or nursery areas occur
Provide adequate bins, separate waste for recycling and keep the beach clean. Toilets need controlled sewage disposal. At least part of the beach must be accessible to disabled visitors, with safety equipment and flag signalling available.
Display facility maps and conduct rules. Camping and driving on the beach are prohibited. Discourage removal of shells, sand and marine life; manage pets to prevent disturbance.
Respect traditional access for local and Indigenous communities. Employment must comply with national labour law.
Plastic-free food outlets and alternative energy sources are recommendations, alongside the mandatory beach-management criteria.
Assessment and certification
The assessment checks evidence for the service or facility being proposed. Agree the scope and audit arrangements before work begins, including the locations, activities and records to be reviewed.
Certification fees
Request a quotation for the proposed scope. Confirm assessment charges and any logo-use royalties before proceeding; submitting an enquiry does not commit you to certification.
Check certification status
Check the listed facility or service and its scope before making a booking or using a certification claim. If the listing is unclear, contact the team for confirmation.
Check certification status
Search the directory for the relevant product or species and check its certification scope and status. A company name in the directory does not mean that all its products are certified.
Frequently asked questions
The assessment concerns the beach area and services identified in the certification scope. Check the named location before treating another beach as covered.
No. Water quality is checked through testing, with information displayed for visitors. Appearance alone cannot establish water quality.
Plastic-free food outlets are recommended. They should not be described as a universal condition already met by every certified beach.
No. Confirm certification approval, the permitted scope of the claim and the applicable logo-use agreement before adding the logo to your website or promotional materials.
Request a quotation based on the facilities or services to be assessed. Ask for assessment charges and logo-use royalties to be identified so you can review the full cost.
Use the application link below and describe the activities and locations you want assessed. The team will confirm the appropriate route and next steps.
Apply for certification
Provide the beach location and boundaries, details of its management and facilities, and a contact person for the application