SA beaches deteriorating?

[nairiporter]

Fewer Blue Flags for SA beaches
http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,179413,00.html

South Africa will have fewer Blue Flags flying over its beaches this festive season. The number of beaches that received the international approval has dropped slightly, mainly due to higher standards.

Blue Flag national coordinator, Alison Kelly, says: “The drop is attributed to the adherence to the criteria. We have dropped from 22 last year to 19 (beaches) this year and we’re working hard to get those beaches back into the programme."

The Blue Flag symbolises that the beach is environmentally sound and clean. Currently, 35 beaches are participating in the programme and only 19 have received their official Blue Flag accreditation.

Cape Town came out on top and was followed closely by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. A noticeable absence was Durban's famed beaches. The city decided to withdraw from the beach scheme, disapproving of its methods.

Other KwaZulu-Natal coastal attractions such as Margate, Ramsgate and Hibberdene are likely to get a major economic boost.