Blue Flag beaches - Hermanus

The Blue Flag initiative was born in France in 1985, with the first coastal municipalities awarded the Blue Flag on the ba...

The Blue Flag initiative was born in France in 1985, with the first coastal municipalities awarded the Blue Flag on the basis of sewage treatment and bathing water quality. The concept has since grown to include other criteria, and there are now over 3 200 Blue Flag beaches and marinas around the world. Blue Flag is managed in South Africa by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and participating coastal authorities under the departments Coast Care programme. Coast Care gives financial and technical help for coastal development projects aimed mostly at poor communities, as well as offering education, training and research services.