Sun and surf

Blue Flag flies on SA beaches

Nineteen South African beaches have been awarded international Blue Flag status for 2008/09 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 2008/09

EASTERN CAPE

Dolphin Beach, Jeffrey's Bay
Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth
Humewood Beach, Port Elizabeth
Kelly's Beach, Port Alfred
Kings Beach, Port Elizabeth
Wells Estate, north of Port Elizabeth

KWAZULU-NATAL

Hibberdene Beach, south coast
Margate Beach, south coast
Marina/San Lameer Beach, south coast
Ramsgate Beach, south coast

WESTERN CAPE

Bikini Beach, Gordon's Bay
Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town
Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town
Grotto Beach, Hermanus
Hawston Beach, near Hermanus
Lappiesbaai Beach, Stilbaai
Mnandi Beach, Cape Town
Muizenberg Beach, Cape Town
Strandfontein Beach, Cape Town

According to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, a further 16 South African beaches are piloting the Blue Flag programme with the aim of achieving full accreditation in 2009 or 2010.

The Blue Flag is awarded for one year only. Eighteen South African beaches were awarded Blue Flag status 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 2001-2007

EASTERN CAPE

Dolphin Beach, Jeffrey's Bay (2004-2007)
Gonubie Beach, East London (2005)
Humewood Beach, Port Elizabeth (2002-2007)
Kelly's Beach, Port Alfred (2005-2007)
King's Beach, Port Elizabeth (2007)
Wells Estate, north of Port Elizabeth (2004-2007)

KWAZULU-NATAL

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

WESTERN CAPE

Bikini Beach, Gordon's Bay (2005-2007)
Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town (2004-2007)
Grotto Beach, Hermanus (2002-2007)
Hawston Beach, near Hermanus (2006-2007)
Kleinmond Beach, near Hermanus (2004, 2006-2007)
Lappiesbaai Beach, Stilbaai (2005-2007)
Lookout Beach, Plettenberg Bay (2001-2002)
Mnandi Beach, Strandfontein (2004-2007)

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 3 200 Blue Flag beaches and marinas 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: December 2008

SAinfo reporter