Sun and surf

Blue Flag flies on SA beaches

South Africa's coastline sparkles! Twenty-nine South African beaches have been awarded international Blue Flag status for 2009/10 for excelling in safety, cleanliness, provision of amenities and maintenance of environmental standards.

Blue Flag gives local and foreign visitors the knowledge that their beaches are clean, environmentally sound and adhere to international safety and other tourist standards.

When South Africa joined the campaign in 2001 as the first country outside Europe to participate, Blue Flag began to grow into a truly international campaign.

The voluntary eco-label is given to beaches that meet 14 criteria spanning three aspects of coastal management: water quality, environmental education and information, and safety and services, which include excellent life-saving standards, top-rate parking and sparkling ablution facilities.

Local authorities report a number of spin-offs from being awarded Blue Flag status, including an increase in visitors, improved behaviour on the part of beach-goers, property prices rising for homes near Blue Flag beaches – and visitors enjoying a well cared-for and managed beach.

South Africa's Blue Flag beaches 2009/10

EASTERN CAPE

Boknes Beach, near Port Alfred
Dolphin Beach, Jeffrey's Bay
Gonubie Beach, East London
Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth
Humewood Beach, Port Elizabeth
Kariega Beach, Kenton-on-Sea
Kelly's Beach, Port Alfred
Robberg 5 Beach, Plettenberg Bay
Wells Estate, north of Port Elizabeth
More info on these beaches - Blue Flag

KWAZULU-NATAL

Alkantstrand Beach, Richards Bay
Margate Beach, south coast
Marina/San Lameer Beach, south coast
Ramsgate Beach, south coast
Trafalgar Beach, south coast
More info on these beaches - Blue Flag

NORTHERN CAPE

McDougalls Bay Beach, Port Nolloth
More info on this beach - Blue Flag

WESTERN CAPE

Big Bay, Bloubergstrand Beach, Cape Town
Bikini Beach, Gordon's Bay
Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town
Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town
Grotto Beach, Hermanus
Hartenbos Beach, Mossel Bay
Hawston Beach, near Hermanus
Kleinmond Beach, near Hermanus
Lappiesbaai Beach, Stilbaai
Mnandi Beach, Cape Town
Muizenberg Beach, Cape Town
Santos Beach, Mossel Bay
Strandfontein Beach, Cape Town
Yzerfontein Beach, west coast
More info on these beaches - Blue Flag

The Blue Flag is awarded for one year only. Nineteen South African beaches were awarded Blue Flag status in 2008, 18 in 2007, 20 in 2006, 20 in 2005, 14 in 2004, eight in 2003, eight in 2002, and four in 2001.

SA's Blue Flag beaches 2001-2009

EASTERN CAPE

Boknes Beach, near Port Alfred (2009)
Dolphin Beach, Jeffrey's Bay (2004-2009)
Gonubie Beach, East London (2005, 2009)
Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth (2008-2009)
Humewood Beach, Port Elizabeth (2002-2009)
Kariega Beach, Kenton-on-Sea (2009)
Kelly's Beach, Port Alfred (2005-2009)
King's Beach, Port Elizabeth (2007-2008)
Robberg 5 Beach, Plettenberg Bay (2009)
Wells Estate, north of Port Elizabeth (2004-2009)

KWAZULU-NATAL

Addington Beach, Durban (2005-2007)
Alkantstrand Beach, Richards Bay (2009)
Anstey's Beach, Durban (2005-2006)
Bay of Plenty Beach, Durban (2005-2006)
Hibberdene Beach, south coast (2003-2005, 2007-2008)
Lucien Beach, south coast (2004-2006)
Margate Main Beach, south coast (2001-2004, 2007-2009)
Marina/San Lameer Beach, south coast (2002-2009)
Ramsgate Main Beach, south coast (2002-2009)
South Beach, Durban (2001-2006)
North Beach, Durban (2007)
Trafalgar Beach, south coast (2009)
Umhlanga Rocks Main Beach (2003-2006)
Uvongo Beach, south coast (2005)
Willard Beach, Ballito (2001-2002)

NORTHERN CAPE

McDougalls Bay Beach, Port Nolloth (2009)

WESTERN CAPE

Big Bay, Bloubergstrand Beach, Cape Town (2009)
Bikini Beach, Gordon's Bay (2005-2009)
Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town (2008-2009)
Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town (2004-2009)
Grotto Beach, Hermanus (2002-2009)
Hartenbos Beach, Mossel Bay (2009)
Hawston Beach, near Hermanus (2006-2009)
Kleinmond Beach, near Hermanus (2004, 2006-2007, 2009)
Lappiesbaai Beach, Stilbaai (2005-2009)
Lookout Beach, Plettenberg Bay (2001-2002)
Mnandi Beach, Cape Town (2004-2009)
Muizenberg Beach, Cape Town (2008-2009)
Santos Beach, Mossel Bay (2009)
Strandfontein Beach, Cape Town (2008-2009)
Yzerfontein Beach, west coast (2009)

The Blue Flag initiative was born in France in 1985, with the first coastal municipalities awarded the Blue Flag on the basis of sewage treatment and bathing water quality.

The concept has since grown to include other criteria, and there are now over 3 450 Blue Flag beaches and marinas in 41 countries around the world.

Blue Flag is managed in South Africa by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and participating coastal authorities under the department's Coast Care programme.

Coast Care gives financial and technical help for coastal development projects aimed mostly at poor communities, as well as offering education, training and research services.

Article last updated: January 2010

SAinfo reporter