What is a Blue Flag beach?

Clean, safe beaches Cape Town South Africa

Custom Search

A blue flag beach is one that has been judged and found acceptable against internatiioal standards as being clean, safe and environmentally friendly. And as it is awarded for only a year at a time, local authorities have to work continuously to maintain their status.

Cape Town Blue Flag Beach status 2009/2010

The updated qualifying South Africa beaches list for 2009/2010 has just been released. Here are the approved beaches from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.

Big Bay beach, Bloubergstrand, Cape Town

Clifton Fourth beach, Cape Town

Camps Bay, Cape Town

Muizenberg, Cape Town

Strandfontein beach, Cape Town

Mnandi beach, Cape Town

Bikinibeach, Gordon's Bay

Yzerfontein main beach, Yzerfontein

Kleinmond beach, near Hermanus

Hawston beach, near Hermanus

Grotto beach, Hermanus

Lappiesbaai, Stilbaai, Southern Cape

Santosbeach, Mossel Bay

Hartenbos beach, Mossel Bay

Robberg 5 beach, Plettenberg Bay

Dolphin beach, Jeffrey's Bay

Humewood beach, Port Elizabeth

Hobie beach, Port Elizabeth

Blue Flag criteria

There are many detailed criteria but they fall into 4 categories

Water quality - sea water at the beach must be of an acceptable quality as regards industrial pollutants and bacteria.

Environmental education and information - the beach's tourist information must publicly display information on natural sensitive areas in the coastal zone, including its flora and fauna. The information must include advice on how beach users should behave in such areas.

An environmental management plan must be in place to minimise the impact of visitors on the natural areas surrounding the beach, and to ensure responsible beach management. All accredited beaches must have adequate ablution facilities for visitors.

Safety and services - hmm... when you say safety South Africans will likely think of crime prevention before lifesaving!

Blue Flag requirements for safety are more concerned with water safety - that is provision of lifesaving and similar services and with accident prevention - than with petty crime.

All blue flag beaches must have lifesavers on duty and adequate rescue services, or ready access to a telephone.