30 October 2007
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) has today,
Tuesday, 30 October 2007, awarded Blue Flag status to 21 beaches at the annual
Blue Flag ceremony held at Wells Estate, north of Port Elizabeth.
A Blue Flag is an international annual award given to beaches that meet
excellence in the areas of safety, amenities, cleanliness and environmental
standards.
The South African beaches that received Blue Flag status are:
* Bronze Beach, Umhlanga
* Umhlanga Rocks Main Beach
* North Beach, Durban
* Bay of Plenty, Durban
* Westbrook Beach, north of Durban
* Addington Beach, Durban
* Margate Beach
* Ramsgate Main Beach
* Marina Beach, Southbroom
* Kelly's Beach, Port Alfred
* Wells Estate, Port Elizabeth
* Humewood Beach, Port Elizabeth
* King's Beach, Port Elizabeth
* Dolphin Beach, Jeffrey's Bay
* Lappiesbaai Beach, Stilbaai
* Grotto Beach, Hermanus
* Kleinmond Beach, near Hermanus
* Hawston Beach, near Hermanus
* Bikini Beach, Gordon's Bay
* Mnandi Beach, Strandfontein, Cape Town
* Clifton fourth Beach, Cape Town
Positive news for the Blue Flag programme is that there are currently 21
pilot beaches embarking on plans to achieve full status accreditation in
2008/09. The growth in the number of Blue Flag beaches augurs well for the
future and especially for visitors coming to South Africa for the Soccer World
Cup in 2010. Blue Flag beaches along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, with their
warm Indian Ocean waters and 365 day a year swimming conditions, will be ideal
places for soccer fans to chill out and relax.
Despite significant damages to many of the Blue Flag beaches as a result of
the high seas and stormy conditions over the past few months, South African
beaches continue to achieve world-class standards and an ever-increasing number
of beaches are now flying the international eco-label, the Blue Flag. Those
Blue Flag beaches that were damaged are all gearing up for the new season of
Blue Flag.
Blue Flag is an international annual award given to beaches that meet
excellence in the areas of safety, amenities, cleanliness, environmental
information and environmental management. The Blue Flag Programme is currently
run in almost 40 countries globally and interest in the programme continues to
grow. There are now almost 3 500 Blue Flag beaches and marinas around the
world.
In South Africa, the programme is run by Wild and Environment Society of
South Africa (WESSA), on behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism (DEAT). In partnership with participating local authorities, Blue Flag
helps to contribute to the aims of the White Paper on Sustainable Coastal
Development.
Enquiries:
Carol Moses
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Cell: 082 829 3917
E-mail: cmoses@deat.gov.za
Alison Kelly
Wild and Environment Society of South Africa
Tel: 033 330 3931
E-mail: alisonk@wessa.co.za
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
30 October 2007
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za)
