Golden Bay certified as a White Flag beach

● Raise the Flag for the Ocean Campaign launched

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca presided over the White Flag award ceremony at Golden Bay yesterday and launched the ‘Raise the Flag for the Ocean Campaign’, together with Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Minister José Herrera.

The ‘Raise the Flag for the Ocean Campaign’ is run by WhiteFlag International, and is aimed at raising awareness about ocean protection, preservation and cleaning. The main objective is to involve various countries in taking concrete action in relation to the cleaning and preservation of oceans, lakes and rivers.

“I am very proud that Malta is making this huge statement today and in the months to come when it will be the first White Flag island of the Mediterranean”, President Coleiro Preca said, whilst commending the government and Minister Herrera for also taking up this important project.

The President said that this is the only way to protect and conserve our oceans, rivers and lakes, adding that nearly half the human population depended on the marine ecosystem.

“We really need to work together, in synergy, as individuals and as countries, to ensure that our oceans are completely free from plastics so as to safeguard, protect and conserve marine biodiversity”, the President said, at the same time reminding those present that 30 per cent of our oxygen intake comes from the oceans.

President Coleiro Preca thanked Kristijan Curavic, CEO of WhiteFlag International, for taking up this initia- tive together with his team – both in Malta and on a global level.

Minister Herrera noted with satisfaction that another beach, Golden Bay, has also been certified as a White Flag Beach following an underwater clean-up to remove plastic from the seabed. He thanked WhiteFlag International for their work and commitment which is leading to cleaner and plastic-free beaches and also thanked Mr Green Ltd for sponsoring the White Flag for Golden Bay.

To kick-start the campaign, President Coleiro Preca nominated President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa “to take part in this concrete global initiative”.