Eight KZN beaches awarded pilot Blue Flag status

The beaches awarded pilot status for the next year include Umgababa and Amanzimtoti in eThekwini, as well as two beaches in Mandeni and four in KwaDukuza.

The Blue Flag system focuses on the environmental management of the coastline and coastal waters to assist tourism growth and development.

For a beach to be awarded Blue Flag status, it must meet strict environmental and quality controls, among other things.

Pilot status means the beaches are working towards achieving the minimum requirements for a Blue Flag. Full Blue Flag status has been handed out to nine beaches in the province.

The beaches that will hoist the internationally recognised banners for the coming year were announced in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape last week.  

NOW READ: eThekwini working to keep Blue Flag status

Seven are situated in the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. 

eThekwini beaches that have made the grade include uShaka and Westbrook, north of the city.

The next season kicks in on the 1st of November, a few weeks before the start of the end-of-year break.

The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa manages the programme in the country.

WESSA's Vincent Shacks says municipalities should focus on achieving the standards if they want to remain popular tourist destinations.

"There is a lot more work that can be done by the country's municipalities and we know people do not just use a beach because it is Blue Flag," he said.

"There are other beaches that are being used and we would love for these local municipalities to adopt the Blue Flag to make those beaches that are already quite heavily used, to ensure that they are maintaining that high standard that the public expects from them."