Hip hip hooray for 4 Blue Flags

For the first time ever, Castle Beach in Pearly Beach, has been awarded Blue Flag beach status joining the three other beaches in the Overstrand - Grotto, Hawston and Kleinmond.

These beaches have earned Blue Flag status for the upcoming 2019/20 holiday season which opens officially on 1 December 2019. Added to the local Blue Flag portfolio, is pilot status for Onrus Beach.

The shark-cage diving boats operated by Marine Dynamics and Great White Shark Tours, as well as the two whale-watching boats operated by Dyer Island Cruises have also earned their Blue Flag status. This year's announcement was made at the V & A Waterfront in Cape Town last week Thursday.

Altogether 45 South African beaches, 9 marinas and 10 sustainable tourism boats were awarded Blue Flags, of which 33 received the title in the Western Cape. An additional 35 beaches across the three provinces have been given pilot status. Full status Blue Flag sites have met the minimum requirements for Blue Flag status in safety, amenities, cleanliness and environmental standards. Pilot sites are recognised for working towards meeting the minimum requirements for full Blue Flag status.

In South Africa, the Blue Flag programme is run by WESSA (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) in conjunction with participating municipal authorities. Blue Flag status is awarded seasonally, and municipalities must apply annually to renew the status of their beaches.

Overstrand’s Blue Flag co-ordinator Lauren Rainbird (2nd left) and Mayoral Committee member for Community Services, Councillor Grant Cohen (2nd right), in the company of Dr Thommie Burger, CEO of Wessa, and Sarah Ferguson of Breathe Conservation on being handed the Blue Flags soon to be unfurled on four of Overstrand’s beaches.

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