Fourteen Garden Route beaches have secured Blue Flag accreditation for the 2026/27 season, but the Mossel Bay municipality said it did not pursue Blue Flag status, opting to apply the associated funds where they were urgently needed, such as on beach infrastructure.

Last year, four beaches in the Mossel Bay municipal area were awarded Blue Flag status: De Bakke, Hartenbos, Little Brak River and Glentana. Three beaches, Santos, Suiderkruis and Tweekuilen, received pilot status last year, reports the Mossel Bay Advertiser.

A pilot beach is a site working towards full Blue Flag accreditation. Blue Flag status is an internationally recognised eco-label that highlights beaches meeting established criteria for water quality, environmental management, environmental education, safety and the provision of appropriate facilities.

Despite the lack of Blue Flag status, the municipality said the area’s beaches remain immensely popular and attract thousands of residents and visitors each year.

Funding shifted to coastal infrastructure

The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa), which receives and processes applications for Blue Flag status, said that an application for full accreditation requires the submission of 20 compliant water quality samples, supported by the required sampling records and a statistical assessment.

“As the application window approached its closing date, Santos Beach had insufficient sampling data available to adequately demonstrate compliance with the 95th percentile requirement,” said Wessa coastal programmes and sustainable tourism project manager Lindokuhle Mkhize.

“It was thus recommended that the beach continue under pilot status while further sampling is undertaken and compliance is demonstrated.”

In parallel, there was a need to identify and improve an alternative beach to support the municipality’s application for an accessible beach with disability access. The identified site would require the necessary upgrades to demonstrate compliance before being put forward for consideration.

“However, for reasons not communicated to Wessa, the recommendation for the sites to continue under pilot status was not taken forward. Consequently, no Mossel Bay beaches have been submitted for full Blue Flag or pilot beach status for the upcoming 2026/27 season,” Mkhize said.

The municipality added that it remains committed to the principles and objectives of the Blue Flag programme, as well as to safe, accessible and well-managed beaches.

While the municipality is not participating in the Blue Flag programme this year, its commitment to environmental excellence has been recognised through Kanon Beach’s achievement of Green Coast status, highlighting the area’s natural environment and ongoing conservation efforts.

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