Mossel Bay boasts five Blue Flag beaches, two pilot sites

Mossel Bay was awarded Blue Flag status for its top five beaches again this year.

Also, two beaches will be piloted for Blue Flag status. The national Blue Flag launch was hosted by George Municipality on 20 October at a restaurant in Wilderness.

Mossel Bay’s Blue Flag beaches are: Glentana, Little Brak River, Santos, Hartenbos and De Bakke, which now has obtained this status for the 11th consecutive year.

Last year, De Bakke Beach was among only three beaches in the country given a special accolade for its decadelong consecutive Blue Flag status.

The additional pilot beach sites are Suiderkruis at Great Brak and Twee Kuilen in Dias, Mossel Bay.

The Blue Flag season runs from 1 December 2023 to 31 January 2024. Compliance requirements include high standards of water quality monitoring, public safety and lifeguard services and well-maintained coastal amenities. South Africa has participated in the Blue Flag programme since 2001.

The iconic Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary ecolabels awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators in 18 municipalities in South Africa.

Blue Flag is an international coastal management programme that accredits beaches that meet standards of excellence in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and information as well as safety and services. In South Africa the programme is implemented by the Wildlife Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA).

Blue Flag participation is voluntary, which shows a strong commitment to environmental sustainability from those municipalities, marinas and tourism boat operators that are awarded status annually. All properties and companies that apply for the Blue Flag award are assessed by a South African National Jury as well as by the Blue Flag International Jury in Europe.