MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Blue Flag will officially be hoisted at De Bakke Beach on 8 December and will be in place until 19 January 2018.
The same dates will be applicable to Hartenbos.
The Blue Flag period for Little Brak will be from 14 December to 12 January 2018.
Although Santos Beach was not awarded Blue Flag Status for 2017/2018 season, the beach will still be operated according to Blue Flag requirements and the same excellent services can be expected as in the past.
Blue Flag status means that the following can be expected at these beaches:
Lifeguards on duty daily from 08:00 to 18:00, although the beaches will officially operate as Blue Flag Beaches between 09:00 and 17:00 during the above mentioned periods.
Security:
• First aid equipment.
• Safe beach access.
• High water quality.
• Clean beaches.
• Adequate and clean ablution facilities.
• Accessibility and ablution facilities for persons with disabilities.
• Environmental education and information.
Pilot beach
In addition to the three Full Status Blue Flag Beaches for this season, Glentana beach and Santos will be run as a pilot beach.
The pilot period will be from 1 December to 28 February 2018.
The objective is to obtain full Blue Flag status for Glentana and Santos beaches in 2018/2019.
Pilot beaches are not required to comply with all Blue Flag criteria. During the pilot period, a minimum of 20 water samples will be analysed by an independent accredited water laboratory who will send the results of the water analysis directly to WESSA for their records.
Only pilot beaches that pass the water quality test will be considered for a Blue Flag award.
In addition, to get full Blue Flag status, all the other requirements, such as the ablution facilities, lifeguards, and security, must be in place before the beach is allowed to operate as a Blue Flag Beach.
About Blue Flag
The Blue Flag Programme, now in its 30th year, is focused on the conservation of marine and coastal habitats, and is designed to raise environmental education and awareness, and increase sound environmental practices among tourists, local populations, and beach management.
To achieve Blue Flag status, as many as 33 different criteria spanning over four aspects of coastal management must be met and maintained: water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and services.
Each Blue Flag site is compelled to conduct several environmental education activities during the year and to practise effective and efficient conservation management.
In South Africa, the Blue Flag programme is managed by WESSA and participating coastal municipalities. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Blue Flag season runs from 1 November to 31 October each year.
Beaches are required to apply for Blue Flag status each year and the Blue Flag standards are only enforced at the beaches over the participating beach’s stated season, which varies from just two months of the year to the full 12 months.
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