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Blue flags fly all over the European Union. Cyprus a recent EU member boasts of 39 Blue flag beaches. Estonia a former Soviet ‘region’ has four beaches and four marinas designated Blue Flags. And Malta? Well, Malta is the only EU country not have a Blue flag flapping at a beach or marina. There are over 2,100 beaches in the EU with a blue flag and just under 600 marinas.
Even though some local councils have indicated their intention to attain Blue Flag status, the probability of achieving them are dreams yet to come.
Converting Maltese marinas into Blue flags is next to impossible. Control on discharges into the sea is next to none and most marinas have to face sewage discharges and runoff polluted water from roads close by.
When one reads through the criteria for attaining a Blue Flag, one can easily understand the reasons why Maltese beaches and marinas are not listed.
The first criterion is compliance with standards such as sewage related discharges which may affect the beach area. Local authorities have to have an emergency plans to cope with pollution accidents.
No algae or other vegetation may accumulate and be left to decay on the beach, except in areas designated for a specific use and as long as this does not constitute a nuisance.
It does stop there, environmental protection is also a must. Coastal zones nearby should be carefully protected and safety measures in place in all the bays.
Marinas fare worse than beaches in Malta. Dumping of bilges and accidents with diesel has left the water in many of the Maltese marinas in a pitiful state.
Malta has been a member of the EU for only four months but, given Malta’s myriad problems of even greater dimensions, the government can be excused if we are not yet on the Blue Flag list.
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