Update with MEPA’s comments: The International Jury for the Blue Flag awards met earlier this month and have announced their findings for Malta and Gozo.

This year, the International Jury has granted the Blue Flag Status to a total of nine beaches in Malta and Gozo and confirms that Ghadira Bay is to retain its Blue Flag status.

Blue Flag Status for 2015

1. Ramla Bay – Gozo

2. Island’s Edge Beach (Paradise Bay Hotel) – Mellieha

3. Mellieha Bay – Mellieha

4. Bugibba Perched beach – St Paul’s Bay

5. Qawra Rocky Beach – St Paul’s Bay

6. St George’s Bay – St Julian’s

7. Westin Dragonara Beach – St Julian’s

8. Fond Ghadir Rocky Beach – Sliema

9. Ghajn Tuffieha Bay – Mgarr (Dispensation Case: beach geographical features cannot offer Disabled Access while Golden Bay offers disabled access and is within reaching distance)

Beach of Quality Award 2015

1. Golden Bay – Mellieha (This Bay will be assessed for full Blue Flag status for 2016 this current season since the authorities have upgraded the application to Blue Flag assessment).

The International jury stressed the importance of the environmental education activities in the Blue Flag programme. It also stressed the importance that the environmental education activities comply with the Blue Flag criteria. Finally, it asked that particular attention is paid to this issue during this year’s national control visits and seminars. In the case of Malta all was complaint

It also reminded all national operators that any spot check site must be sent to the international jury with a compliant bathing water quality excel sheet. It warned all national operators that from next year any beach sent with a non-compliance bathing water quality excel sheet will simply not be awarded by the international jury. Finally, the international jury reminded all national operators that it is their responsibility to ensure that their bathing water quality excel sheets are fully filled in and compliant. In the case of Malta all was compliant.

It said that it was disappointed that there are still some countries which do not send the feedback regarding non-compliances reported on the international control visits reports. It reminded all countries that if no feedback is sent as a result of the international control visits after a month, the sites with insufficient feedback will not be considered for the Blue Flag award the following year. In the case of Malta all was compliant.

The International Jury congratulated Nature Trust (Malta) as the Malta Blue Flag national operator for sending the documentation on time and the excellent performance.

The International Jury has granted the dispensation to Ghain Tuffieha Bay, and asked that information about the dispensation is displayed on the information board, as well as pointing on the map the closest disabled beach with the Quality beach label.

“Furthermore it is imperative that this beach has the appropriate waste separation bins as approved for Malta Blue Flag. Failing to have these in place will mean that the Flag will not be awarded next year,” it said.

In addition, it asked that Blue Flag Malta works with the Golden Bay beach towards Blue Flag award, pushing the municipality and Government to comply with the environmental standards which are necessary to be awarded the Blue Flag.

Blue Flag noted that this is already in process and said that it looks forward to seeing a positive evaluation for 2015.

It asked that Blue Flag Malta reports next year to the Blue Flag International Jury about the status regarding Blue Flag implementation at the Golden Bay beach, if it has not reached full compliance for 2016.

MEPA said that it is “satisfied that the International Jury has recognised the efforts that MEPA and the Government Property Division have made over the past months to ensure that Golden Bay will be awarded the Blue Flag status for the 2016 season.”

Over the past weeks MEPA said that its enforcement officers supervised the removal and demolition of a 465 square metre ‘kiosk,’ which for years was located on the sandy beach at Golden Bay and the wooden staircase that led down to it from the upper road. “The kiosk and stairs have not only been an eyesore but were also having an adverse impact on the protected ecology of the area.”

The International Jury in its report said that “regarding the extraordinary circumstance concerning Mellieha bay,” which were not detailed, the International Jury thanked thanked the National Operator for “taking swift action and sending the Evaluation Report to the International Jury.”

The International Jury awarded the Blue Flag to Mellieha bay, on the condition that the MEPA continues to monitor the construction of the kiosks to ensure compliance with the permits conditions and method statements, and that the operation of the kiosks is monitored to ensure full compliance with the blue Flag criteria.

Commenting MEPA said that the permit for the upgrading of the existing kiosks along the Ghadira Bay is part of a holistic plan spearheaded by the Malta Tourism Authority to upgrade and embellish this highly popular tourist area. “Through this holistic plan, facilities such as the Ghadira kiosks, will adopt a uniform design and ensure the proper collection and disposal of waste according to sanitary regulations.”

MEPA added that it has, over these past weeks, been monitoring the permitted upgrading works on these kiosks to ensure that they comply with the method statement which was assessed and endorsed by the Environment Protection Directorate. “Although not requiring a full development planning permit, the processing of these applications was rigorous to ensure that all environmental and planning considerations were addressed.”

The International Jury went on to say that it encouraged the National Operator to keep a close discussion between Blue Flag Malta and Blue Flag International to ensure the beach complies with all Blue Flag criteria before it is awarded, and during the season.

“If there are failures in the process the Blue Flag is to withdraw the Flag immediately from this Beach during the season,” the International Jury said.

Furthermore it is recommended that “more frequent beach inspections are done at Mellieha Bay since this Bay has witnessed various problems over the years which may risk the retention of the Flag.”

Photograph: Alain Salvary

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