I think that our Maltese beaches have improved considerably over the past few years. The water is generally cleaner and there is less litter on the beaches themselves.

Having said that, there is a lot more that can and should be done to further increase the appeal of our waters for both locals and the very important tourist trade.

Take Balluta Bay as one example. This is quite a unique ‘city bay’ with generally beautiful buildings surrounding it. The sand is wonderful and very fine. However, the small sandy beach itself is quite disgusting. There is quite a bit of litter and rocks and the seaweed accumulation is extensive. Once it starts to decompose, it emits an odious smell. The steps leading down to the beach itself are badly eroded and hazardous and the arches under the road itself need a thorough clean-up.

My point is this: our beaches are a very important asset, especially for our tourist trade. They all should be cleaned very regularly... preferably everyday during the peak summer month. As I noted, progress has been made but more is necessary. The cost of better and more frequent maintenance is not high. However, the potential rewards most certainly can be.