National Jury
The National Jury is made up of relevant stakeholders connected to the Blue Flag program. Different stakeholder ensure all the elements of the program are represented and have equal influence on award status.
Responsibilities
The National Jury is responsible for ensuring all information from candidates is relevant; examining candidate compliance; and forwarding on candidates who have been approved to the International Jury. Jury member organizations were instrumental in helping provide National Criteria implementation and support the program through their ongoing efforts to raise awareness, provide criteria resources, and offer expertise.
National Jury Member Organizations
National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is the nation’s largest wildlife conservation organization. NWF’s mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. Since NWF’s founding in 1936, the Federation has brought together people of all backgrounds to conserve land, water, air, and ecosystems for wildlife—and to ensure communities are healthy and sustainable. NWF Is a true Federation, with a nationwide reach of 53 independent state affiliates, more than six million members and supporters, and over 350 staff working in 11 offices across the country, including the National Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C.
In particular, the National Wildlife Federation works to elevate natural climate solutions—harnessing the features and benefits of ecosystems such as grasslands, forests, and wetlands to make communities more resilient to future disasters. NWF has championed nature-based strategies—such as establishing living shorelines, and investing in ecologically appropriate coastal and wetland restoration—that enhance the health of our coasts and ecosystems. These approaches can capture carbon, improve wildlife habitat, reduce climate and hazard risks to communities, and create needed economic opportunities.
US Environmental Protection Agency
Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots, international NGO dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network. Organized into a network of over 150 chapters and clubs in North America, Surfrider runs programs and campaigns to protect clean water and healthy beaches, including their volunteer water quality monitoring program, the Blue Water Task Force.
Coastal States Organization
Since 1970, Coastal States Organization (CSO) has served as the collective voice for the nation’s coastal states, commonwealths, and territories on federal legislative, administrative, and policy issues relating to coastal, Great Lakes, and ocean management. CSO members – the state and territory coastal management programs – partner with coastal communities, federal agencies, tribal governments, and industry for the safe and effective management, beneficial use, protection, and development of the coastal zone through the federal-state partnership established under the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA).
United States Lifesaving Association
The United States Lifesaving Association is America’s nonprofit professional association of beach lifeguards and open water rescuers . The USLA works to reduce the incidence of death and injury in the aquatic environment through public education, national lifeguard standards, training programs, promotion of high levels of lifeguard readiness, and other means.