Now that the Blue Flag season has opened, Ronald Cassar takes a look at what’s new on our shores. He finds that there are now more managed beaches than ever before, offering more facilities and activities for everyone.
Since the Malta Tourism Authority finalised a beach enhancement project and became involved in the management of St George’s Bay in 2004 and created the perched beach in Buġibba a year later, the number of managed beaches on our islands has increased significantly.
Malta can now boast of having nine Blue Flag beaches. These are Mellieħa Bay, Qawra Point, Fond Għadir in Sliema, St George’s Bay and Buġibba Perched Beach, all managed by the MTA, Għajn Tuffieħa and Ramla il-Ħamra in Gozo, managed by the Gaia Foundation, and two private resort hotels, the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel and, new this year, the Westin Dragonara Resort.
Golden Bay has retained its Beach of Quality status. This popular bay has not acquired the coveted Blue Flag symbol yet because of a commercial kiosk that was situated on the bay until last February.
“From this year, MTA was able to work on changing the beach from Beach of Quality to Blue Flag,” says Ray Azzopardi, senior product development manager at the Malta Tourism Authority. “The removal of the kiosk should clear the way for the Blue Flag award in 2016.”
Azzopardi adds that feedback has been very encouraging.
“The sand dunes are now visible and the beach looks bigger and deeper. Comments from the public are generally positive, with some more space available for children to play. The environmentalists, among others, had also lobbied for the relocation of the kiosk off the protected sand dunes so they see this as a positive outcome.”
Striving for the Blue Flag for our beaches helps in achieving higher standards,and this accolade helps Malta in the international market
Four major criteria are needed to meet the Blue Flag requirements. These are: beach management (including beach cleanliness, waste sorting, facilities for people with special needs and information on the particular beach); health and safety on the beach; bathing water quality standards and environmental education activities.
“These criteria are covered by the lifeguarding patrols, enhancing accessibility to the sea, performing periodical bathing water checks and its safeguarding, as well as organising various environmental/educational activities both for the young and not-so-young participants,” explains Azzopardi.
Pretty Bay in Birżebbuġa, which was closed for a couple of days this week due to an oil spill, is not a Blue Flag beach but it is being managed by the Malta Tourism Authority. Facilities available include lifeguards and waste separation bins.
Since 2013, the MTA has carried an experimental beach management activity at Pretty Bay in Birżebbuġa for short periods in the summer season. Now the bay is receiving full beach management services, including lifeguards.
“With the beach management offered at Pretty Bay, we provide better quality and added value to our product. With the cooperation of the Birżebbuġa Local Council, we have enhanced various activities and sports areas offered,” says Azzopardi.
This year the authority has also launched four other pilot projects at Ta’ Fajtata in Marsascala, Santa Marija Bay in Comino, and financially supporting the Ministry for Gozo in managing Marsalforn and Ħondoq ir-Rummien.
Ta’ Fajtata beach, a rocky stretch close to St Thomas Bay, has been furnished with new picnic tables, an open air gym, a kids play area and other recreational spaces. Toilets, showers and railings have been upgraded and the beach is accessible with ramps that lead to the rocky shore.
Lifeguards at Pretty Bay in Birżebbuġa.Additionally, the MTA places lifeguards at Blue Lagoon in Comino and financially supports the lifeguard needs at Għajn Tuffieħa and Ramla l-Ħamra. It also sponsors night security patrols and floodlighting at St George’s Bay and since 2013, has added free Wi-Fi and surveillance cameras at this popular bay, with the aim of expanding these services to other beaches.
The MTA is obliged by Malta’s Blue Flag operator, environmental NGO Nature Trust, to hold a number of environmental and educational activities on every beach, around the coast and within venues related to the marine environment. The ministry works beyond the required criteria and organises a number of activities with experts who can offer professional guidance.
Hundreds of children from Malta’s summer schools take part in these events, which range from snorkelling, evening walks, bird watching and nature photography to exhibitions.
This year, the MTA will be promoting waste separation for better waste management, not only in public areas but also at home and at workplaces.
In the past, MTA’s slogan was ‘Help Us Keep the Beaches Clean’. This year, it is expanding on the theme by calling on beachgoers for ‘Proper Waste Separation – Help Us Manage Waste Better and Recycle More’.
“Waste separation and its management (operated by the Cleansing Services Department within the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure), as well as the periodical sand sifting, are crucial components of beach management.
“But this is a huge environmental issue, not only for beaches but on a national scale and with this campaign, we hope to help drive the message home,” stresses Azzopardi.
Better beach management helps maintain international standards and makes our beaches a marketing tool for our country.
“Striving for the Blue Flag for our beaches helps in achieving higher standards, and this accolade helps Malta in the international market. In conjunction with Malta’s cultural and historical beauties, beaches help in attracting visitors.”
However, MTA cannot do it all by itself. Azzopardi appeals to beachgoers to help keep beaches in pristine condition and thus attract more visitors.
For more information, visit www.mta.com.mt/BlueFlag.
Swimming zones
Forty-nine bays around the Maltese islands are reserved exclusively for swimmers this year, with St Peter’s Pool in Marsaxlokk 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. These zones are indicated by coloured marker buoys and ropes. No vessels or objects which may endanger the safety of bathers is be used within these areas.
For more information, refer to the Notice to Mariners numbers 20 and 26, available to download from the Transport Malta website.
Dogs may enjoy the sea at 11 beaches.Animal-friendly beaches
The list of animal-friendly beaches remains the same as last year’s. These are Mġiebaħ Bay in Selmun, Torri l-Abjad Bay, l-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa, Rinella Bay at Kalkara, Żonqor Point in Marsascala, Marsascala Bay, Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq behind the Splash and Fun complex, Tigné Point in Sliema, Marsaxlokk opposite Xatt is-Sajjieda, and Mġarr ix-Xini and the coast near Xwejni Bay in Gozo. 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. They must be kept under control at all times and must not be allowed to create any inconvenience.