Eight beaches have once again acquired Blue Flag status: Mellieħa Bay, Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, Ramla l-Ħamra in Gozo, Qawra Point, St George’s Bay in St Julian’s, Buġibba Perched Beach, Fond Għadir in Sliema and Paradise Bay Resort Hotel Beach. Golden Bay has again been awarded Beach of Quality status. These sites, except for Għajn Tuffieħa and Ramla l-Ħamra (Gaia Foundation), are managed by the Malta Tourism Authority.
Blue Flag means that the above beaches are operated eight hours a day seven days a week for three months a year. All beaches are manned during these periods by qualified lifeguards and first aid personnel and on-site beach cleaners. They are furnished with information and ecology boards, a clinic room, noticeboards with the code of conduct and activities, waste separation bins, beach libraries and swim zone perimetres – which are issued by Transport Malta.
This year, a total of 48 bays around the Maltese islands are reserved exclusively for swimmers, with Qajjenza Bay in Birżebbuġa being the latest addition. The majority of the zones are applicable until September 30 while Blue Lagoon is reserved as a swimmers’ zone until October 15. The reserved zones are indicated by coloured marker buoys and ropes.
Beach supervisors are recruited by MTA every year to supervise all beach operations and ensure that beach users abide by the beach code of conduct for their own and other bathers’ benefit and for that of the environment.
The MTA also provides lifeguard operations at Blue Lagoon and limited lifeguard services at Marsalforn. It is also introducing beach management operations and assistance to other beaches, namely Pretty Bay at Birżebbuġa and monitoring of activities at Wied iż-Żurrieq.
The MTA also organises environmental activities on beaches, the coast and within marine-related venues. For more information, visit www.mta.com.mt/blueflag.
Animal-friendly zones
Five new areas have been added to the list of animal-friendly bays this week. These are Torri l-Abjad Bay, Rinella Bay at Kalkara, Imġiebaħ Bay, Selmun, Marsascala Bay and Żonqor Point, and Mġarr ix-Xini in Gozo.
Dogs may also be taken to Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq behind the Splash and Fun complex, Tigné Point in Sliema, Marsaxlokk opposite Xatt is-Sajjieda, the coast near Xwejni Bay in Gozo and l-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa.
The zones remain open to the public. Dogs are to be kept on a leash until taken into the water and owners must clean up after them and dispose of the waste in the bins provided for the purpose.