Editorial Methodology

Zeach covers over 5,000 Blue Flag certified beaches. Every page is built on verified data, written by a regional expert, and edited by our Coastal Research Editor before publication. Here is exactly how that process works.

Data sources

All factual claims on Zeach are sourced from one of the following authoritative sources:

• Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) — official Blue Flag certification data, criteria, and annual award announcements
• European Environment Agency (EEA) — bathing water quality classifications for all EU/EEA beaches
• National environmental monitoring agencies — water quality for beaches outside the EU (e.g., UK Environment Agency, EPA Ireland)
• National meteorological services — historical climate data for temperature, rainfall, and UV index
• OpenStreetMap / Wikidata — geographic coordinates, facility data, and beach attributes
• National and regional tourism authority publications — local transport, access, and visitor information

We do not use user-generated reviews from TripAdvisor, Google, or similar platforms as factual sources. Where visitor sentiment is reported, it is attributed as "aggregated public feedback" and is clearly labelled as such.

Author standards

Each beach page is written by a regional author with first-hand knowledge of that specific coastline. Authors are selected based on demonstrable local expertise — they must have visited the beach in question or the surrounding region within the past three years.

Author bylines appear on every page in the format: "Written by [Author Name] | Edited by Arjun Nair, Coastal Research Editor | Updated [Month Year]". This format reflects the actual contribution structure — the regional author provides on-the-ground knowledge and first draft content; the Coastal Research Editor verifies data accuracy, enforces editorial standards, and approves publication.

AI disclosure

Zeach uses AI language models as research and drafting tools at some stages of the content production process. All AI-assisted content is reviewed, verified, and edited by human authors before publication. AI tools do not source data independently — all factual claims are verified against the primary sources listed above before inclusion.

We do not label individual pages as "AI-assisted" because the editorial process ensures human responsibility for all published content. This methodology page documents the full production process transparently.

Update cycle

Blue Flag certification status is updated annually, following the FEE annual award announcement (typically June). Water quality data is updated when the EEA publishes its seasonal bathing water report. Climate and seasonal data is reviewed annually. Facility and transport information is reviewed on a rolling basis as part of our editorial maintenance cycle.

The Updated [Month Year] date on each page reflects the most recent editorial review date — not necessarily the date a specific fact was changed.

Corrections policy

We take factual accuracy seriously. If you identify an error on any page — incorrect water quality rating, wrong facility information, outdated transport details — please use our contact form to report it. We review all correction requests and publish corrections on the relevant page within five business days.

Affiliate disclosure

Some pages on Zeach include affiliate links to booking platforms, car hire services, or activity providers. When you click these links and make a purchase, Zeach may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate relationships never influence editorial coverage. We do not accept payment for placement, positive coverage, or rankings.

Independence statement

Zeach is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or funded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). "Blue Flag" is a registered trademark of FEE. Our coverage is editorially independent. We report Blue Flag certification as public information — we do not represent or promote the Blue Flag programme itself.