Selmun beach to be rid of seaweed

Anyone intending to venture down to picturesque Selmun Bay for a swim may not bother to undertake the steep and winding trek... at least until tomorrow.

That is when the beach has been scheduled to be cleaned of a thick carpet of black seaweed that has accumulated over the winter months, rendering the sandy part of the already small bay out of bounds.

Tourists and locals attempting to enjoy the secluded spot before the height of summer kicks in have been forced to stick to the limited areas of clay slopes and rocks on the far ends... Turning back on your tracks is not on when you've just carted a barbecue set all the way down a tricky path in a pair of flimsy flip-flops. But the beach-cleaning busters from the Tourism Ministry are planning to "blitz" the bay back into shape, despite the fact that it is early days and no mean feat, Malta Tourism Authority director product planning Mario Attard has been informed.

The problem with Selmun Bay is its inaccessibility and, in fact, it is probably more visited by boat.

Not many are prepared to manoeuvre their cars through roadsides that can be reached with outstretched arms, or park on a lopsided area that feels like your vehicle is about to topple off the hill into the sea below; not many, despite the promise of privacy, are ready to lug a picnic cooler, umbrellas and deckchairs down the dust track to the beach... and back up again after a draining day of sun.

It is, therefore, not surprising that Selmun Bay poses particular problems for the ministry's beach cleaning section. It cannot be accessed on trucks to cart away the seaweed and requires particular vans, Mr Attard said.

But the peak season is just around the corner and by tomorrow afternoon, the beach should be able to be enjoyed, stripped of the sea of weed that has made its clear water look like the victim of an oil spill from up above.