Environment & Natural Resources News South Africa

Here are all South Africa's Blue Flag beaches for the 2019/20 season

Sixty-four Blue Flags were awarded at the 2019/20 launch of South Africa's Blue Flag season, including 45 beaches, nine marinas and 10 sustainable tourism boats across South Africa. The season officially opens on 1 November 2019.
Blue Flag raising ceremony at the V&A Waterfront
Blue Flag raising ceremony at the V&A Waterfront

Now in its 19th year, Blue Flag is an internationally-recognised eco-label with more than 47 countries participating in the initiative. The local programme has been managed by WESSA since 2001 in partnership with participating coastal municipalities. Blue Flag's strict criteria, set by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe, focuses on the environmental management of coastlines and coastal waters to support sustainable tourism growth and development.

"Blue Flag has truly stood the test of time and today we find ourselves an extremely relevant role-player in the rejuvenated efforts to stand up for our oceans," said Vincent Shacks, general manager for sustainable tourism at WESSA.

Speakers at this year's launch and awards presentation included City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment, Marian Nieuwoudt, and founder of Breathe Conservation, Sarah Ferguson.

Education drive needed

Sarah Ferguson, long-distance open ocean swimmer and founder of Breathe Ocean
Sarah Ferguson, long-distance open ocean swimmer and founder of Breathe Ocean

"My plea for today with the Blue Flag programme is that we need to combine it with an education drive about pollution... We really need to understand our responsibility in managing the absolute beauty that we have around us and that which the Blue Flag beaches offer us," said Nieuwoudt.

"There's a tendency for humans to function as if they are something separate from nature. We need to re-evaluate ourselves and our role within our ecosystem. [The environment] is there for you to benefit from, but it's not yours to exploit."

Extreme swimming for ocean conservation

Keynote speaker Sarah Ferguson is passionate about the ocean and, through long-distance open water swimming, works to raise awareness of single-use plastic pollution and its impact on marine life. She started her journey in ocean conservation in 2011, following her first ocean race in Hawaii. This year she became the first person ever to circumnavigate Easter Island, swimming 63km in 19 hours. Ferguson was awarded the Lewis Pugh cup from the Cape Long Distance Swimming association for this record-breaking feat.

"I also get the privilege of swimming with incredible marine life. I've swum with dolphins, whales, sharks, manta rays, a whole lot of creatures, and it's another big reason as to why I do what I do - it's to be a voice for them that don't have a voice," said Ferguson.

"They say that by 2050 there'll be more plastic in the ocean than fish in the sea, but I believe we can change that statistic, and I believe it starts with every single one of us in this room today.

"I don't just get up and swim a marathon, it takes years of training and preparation and a lot of team work to do what I do, but I do it one stroke at a time and when you look at what you're trying to achieve, it can be very overwhelming, but every time you're doing it, you're making a difference," she said.

South Africa's 2019/20 Blue Flag beaches

ProvinceAreaSite
Western CapeCity of Cape TownSilwerstroomstrand
Western CapeCity of Cape TownClifton 4th
Western CapeCity of Cape TownCamps Bay
Western CapeCity of Cape TownLlandudno
Western CapeCity of Cape TownMuizenberg
Western CapeCity of Cape TownStrandfontein
Western CapeCity of Cape TownMnandi
Western CapeCity of Cape TownBikini
Western CapeCity of Cape TownMelkbosstrand
Western CapeCity of Cape TownFish Hoek

ProvinceAreaSite
Western CapeOverstrandKleinmond
Western CapeOverstrandHawston
Western CapeOverstrandGrotto
Western CapeOverstrandCastle Beach

ProvinceAreaSite
Western CapeCape AgulhasStruisbaai

ProvinceAreaSite
Western CapeHessequaWitsand
Western CapeHessequaPreekstoel
Western CapeHessequaLappiesbaai
Western CapeHessequaJongensfontein
Western CapeHessequaGouritzmond
Western CapeHessequaStilbaai Wes

ProvinceAreaSite
Western CapeMossel BayDe Bakke
Western CapeMossel BayHartenbos
Western CapeMossel BayKlein Brak
Western CapeMossel BaySantos
Western CapeMossel BayGlentana

ProvinceAreaSite
Western CapeKnysnaBrenton‐on‐Sea

ProvinceAreaSite
Western CapeBitouRobberg 5
Western CapeBitouKeurboomstrand
Western CapeBitouNature’s Valley
Western CapeBitouLookout
Western CapeBitouThe Dunes
Western CapeBitouSinging Kettle

ProvinceAreaSite
Eastern CapeKougaDolphin

ProvinceAreaSite
Eastern CapeNelson Mandela Bay MetroKings
Eastern CapeNelson Mandela Bay MetroHumewood
Eastern CapeNelson Mandela Bay MetroHobie

ProvinceAreaSite
Eastern CapeNdlambeKariega
Eastern CapeNdlambeKelly’s

ProvinceAreaSite
KwaZulu-NatalRay NkonyeniMarina
KwaZulu-NatalRay NkonyeniTrafalgar
KwaZulu-NatalRay NkonyeniSouthport
KwaZulu-NatalRay NkonyeniUmzumbe
KwaZulu-NatalRay NkonyeniHibberdene

ProvinceAreaSite
KwaZulu-NataleThekwiniUshaka

For more info on Blue Flag South Africa, click here.

About Sindy Peters

Sindy Peters (@sindy_hullaba_lou) is a group editor at Bizcommunity.com on the Construction & Engineering, Energy & Mining, and Property portals. She can be reached at moc.ytinummoczib@ydnis.
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