The FEE (Fund for Environmental Education International), an international NGO headquartered in Denmark, launched this program in 1985 to evaluate sustainable coastal areas such as beaches and marinas. It is the world's oldest international environmental certification system. The program is related to all 17 of the SDGs and is implemented in more than 50 countries and 5,000 locations worldwide.
Marina certification accounts for only a little over 13% of all certifications worldwide (approximately 700 locations), and is known to be extremely difficult to obtain compared to beach certification. In order to be certified as a marina, it is necessary to meet strict international standards covering 37 items in 6 areas: 1. Water quality, 2. Environmental education and information, 3. Environmental management, 4. Safety and service, 5. CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), and 6. Participation in society and community.
The certification process involves two stages: a domestic audit and an international audit. Furthermore, annual renewal requires demonstrating improvements exceeding those of the previous year. Therefore, it's a rigorous environmental certification that's not a "one-time acquisition" process, and it enjoys high credibility and authority worldwide.
Originating in France in 1985, the certification has spread to countries around the world, primarily in Europe, and as of May 2026, 5216 locations in 51 countries have received certification. In Japan, Riviera Zushi Marina was the first in Asia to receive certification, followed by Riviera Seabornia Marina in 2024 as the second in Asia, and Yanmar Sunset Marina (Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture) in 2025, leaving only three locations in Japan with certification. There are only 12 certified beaches in Japan: Wakasa Wada Beach (Takahama Town, Fukui Prefecture), Yuigahama Beach (Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture), Suma Beach (Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture), Motosuka Beach (Sanmu City, Chiba Prefecture), Zushi Beach (Zushi City, Kanagawa Prefecture), Okitsu Beach (Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture), Shobuda Beach (Shichigahama Town, Miyagi Prefecture), Oda no Hama Beach (Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture), Sun-Ore Sodehama Beach (Minamisanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture), Nishiki no Hama Beach (Kaizuka City, Osaka Prefecture), Takada Matsubara Beach (Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture), and Kirikiri Coast Beach (Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture).
[Background of acquisition]
Riviera, which started its marina business in 2001, felt the effects of climate change firsthand and began environmental conservation activities. In 2006, it launched the "Riviera Future Creation Project," and has been working on numerous activities based on three pillars: "environment," "education," and "well-being (health care and community development)." It has been steadily promoting sustainable initiatives to pass on the good old things and the natural environment to the next generation, such as using vegetable scraps from the marina's restaurant as compost instead of burning them as combustible waste, and using them again in the restaurant at Riviera Zushi Marina, and installing "thin film solar power generation panels" on the marina's quay to generate renewable energy which is used to power the marina. It has also been focusing on environmental education. Furthermore, since 2021, it has been holding events such as the "Riviera SDGs Festival," "LOVE OCEAN," and the "Riviera SDGs Manga Award" to broaden the base of the sustainable movement.
Then, in 2022, to further demonstrate their commitment to the environment, they applied for international certification. After a rigorous review process, Riviera Zushi Marina became the first marina in Japan and the first in Asia to receive Blue Flag certification. Subsequently, in 2024, Riviera Seabornia Marina also became the second marina in Asia to receive Blue Flag certification.
Even after obtaining the Blue Flag, a business must meet the standards through two rigorous examinations, a domestic examination and an international examination, every year. In addition, the examination standards become stricter each year, so constant efforts are required to continue.
Through obtaining this certification, we learned that efforts to protect the environment along the coast have a significant impact on tourism. Recognition is particularly high in Europe, and a Blue Flag Marina is recognized as a "well-managed, safe, comfortable, environmentally conscious marina that everyone can enjoy." The Blue Flag is a globally recognized symbol of safety and reliability.
Based on the idea of ``environment x tourism'' that ``people gather in the beautiful sea,'' Riviera is realizing sustainable tourism by proactively addressing environmental issues through the ``LOVE OCEAN Project'' and promoting regional revitalization. We believe that we can contribute to creating a sustainable society. As a business owner of two world-class marinas recognized by Blue Flag, we will continue to work on environmental conservation, environmental education, and sustainable town development.
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