Tel Aviv sets a national standard for clean, sustainable coastlines
Reaffirming its leadership in sustainable coastal management, all 13 of Tel Aviv-Yafo’s public beaches have once again earned the prestigious Blue Flag certification for 2025. This honor, awarded by the International Blue Flag Committee and the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), recognizes beaches that meet exceptional standards in water quality, safety, accessibility, and environmental education.
Each year, the Blue Flag is reassessed to ensure compliance with strict international criteria. For Tel Aviv-Yafo, retaining Blue Flag status across all its beaches reflects a sustained municipal commitment to clean seas, inclusive spaces, and community stewardship. The concept was brought to Israel through a Swedish environmentalist named Andreas Weil.
In Israel, the program is implemented by EcoOcean, a nonprofit organization of scientists and educators devoted to marine conservation. It is founded by Weil.
This achievement is especially significant in light of recent environmental challenges. The ongoing conflict with Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and Yemen.
In 2021, Israel faced one of its worst ecological disasters when an offshore oil spill contaminated more than 160 kilometers of Mediterranean coastline. Tar washed up on beaches from Ashkelon to Rosh Hanikra, including Tel Aviv’s shores.
As Green Prophet reported at the time, thousands of volunteers joined cleanup efforts, collecting sticky, toxic waste by hand. The city’s rapid response and community-driven action helped restore the beaches and laid the groundwork for more rigorous monitoring and preventive strategies.
A rare Mediterranean Monk Seal resting on a beach in central Israel, May 13, 2023. (Guy Levian/Nature and Parks Authority)
Beyond cleanliness and conservation, the Blue Flag also honors beaches for universal accessibility. Tel Aviv has prioritized infrastructure for people with disabilities, including accessible boardwalks, floating wheelchairs, tactile paving, and lifeguard assistance for people with mobility impairments.
This inclusive approach has made Tel Aviv’s beaches welcoming not just for locals and tourists, but for seniors, families, and people of all abilities.
A major focus of Tel Aviv’s beach management has been the elimination of single-use plastics. In 2019, the city passed a bylaw banning plastic bags, straws, and utensils at public beaches. As Green Prophet covered in our report on the ban, this was a bold move to combat marine litter and microplastic pollution.
Today, educational signage, waste separation bins, and awareness campaigns reinforce the city’s message: protecting the sea is a shared responsibility.
With 13 Blue Flags proudly flying, Tel Aviv-Yafo remains a regional and global leader in sustainable urban coastline management. As sea levels rise and marine ecosystems face increasing pressure, the city’s blend of policy, education, and public engagement offers a blueprint for others to follow.
Tel Aviv is about 30 kilometers away from a rare shark attack that killed a man that happened a couple of weeks ago near Michmoret beach and a desalination plant. A source we spoke with said that locals were feeding dead fish straight into the mouths of the sharks for some time, and that he believes the swimmer got caught in a current leading to panic, splashing and then a frenzied shark attack. Shark attacks are rare in Israel. It is the fourth one in decades.
Tel Avinians are usually more concerned about jellyfish swarms that come up from the Red Sea. After Egypt created the Suez Canal it led to an explosion in invasive species.
Blue Flags in the region – a win for Turkey
Turkey ranks third globally in the number of Blue Flag beaches, boasting 567 certified beaches as of 2024. The Antalya province leads with 233 Blue Flag beaches, followed by Muğla with 112 and Izmir with 64.
As of 2024, Lebanon does not have any beaches certified with the Blue Flag. While Lebanon offers beautiful coastal areas like Tyre, Batroun, and Byblos, they have not received this specific international certification.
Syria has no Blue Flag.
Cyprus boasts an impressive number of 76 Blue Flag beaches and 2 marinas as of 2024, making it one of the top countries in Europe for clean, environmentally managed, and well-equipped coastal destinations.
Check a beach before you book a destination. See Blue Flag Global.
