MALTA'S BLUE FLAG BEACHES AND BEACHES OF QUALITY The Malta Tourism Authority invested resources to make the leap in the quality of the tourism product being offered. Until a decade ago Malta did not have beaches managed to international quality standards. During the past years, two beaches managed by MTA were awarded Blue Flag Status while another three beaches achieved a Beach of Quality Award. St. George's Bay at St. Julian's was a heavily degraded beach being used as a mooring and fishing port. Being in the hub of five star holiday accommodation, studies were conducted to replenish the bay with sand and reverse the process of erosion to the bay's former process of a depositional, sandy beach. Studies proved favourable and the beach was replenished with sand imported from another Mediterranean Country. Since it is an urban beach, course sand was selected as it offered better stability. Over the following years, its success was witnessed by the return of the original sand through the prevailing waves and sea currents. The beach is now being managed by the Malta Tourism Authority, to internationally recognised standards. The outstanding performance in management at St. George's Bay helped the beach to achieve the Blue Flag Beach Award for the first time in 2009, and every year ever since. This means that the beach has reached 100% of the required Blue Flag criteria in beach management.St. George's Bay became one of the most popular beaches on the Islands and is being used all hours of the day all year round. BLUE FLAG AWARDThe Blue Flag is a voluntary eco-label awarded to beaches and marinas that comply with a number of criteria designed to ensure that those beaches and marinas awarded the label are working towards sustainable development. The criteria address water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management and safety and other services. Over 3,450 beaches and marinas from over 41 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada and the Caribbean have been awarded the Blue Flag in 2010. The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an international non-government organization (NGO), is responsible for the Blue Flag Scheme and is represented in Malta by the local environmental NGO, Nature Trust.Following the success of St. George's Bay, The Malta Tourism Authority created another beach in the tourist accommodation area of Bugibba. Bugibba Perched Beach achieved the Blue Flag Award for the first time in 2010, based on the beach management executed during the previous years. BEACH OF QUALITY AWARDS FOR MELLIEHA BAY AND GOLDEN BAYThe energy that was being invested on the beaches by the Product Development Directorate was giving results. The Malta Tourism Authority, entrusted more beaches to the Directorate to manage to high standards. Mellieha Bay and Golden Bay were awarded the Beach of Quality Award for reaching over 70% threshold of the Blue Flag Criteria. The Beach Management Team will keep doing its utmost to override obstacles that hinder the achievement of a full Blue Flag Award. QAWRA POINT AND FOND GHADIRIn 2010 the Authority extended its operations to start including rocky shores in its beach management programme. An upgrading and embellishment project was executed at Qawra Point in St. Paul's Bay. Qawra Point was a dilapidated coastal stretch in a tourist priority area. The project saw the transformation of this shoreline to a beach with full facilities and managed to achieve a Quality Award in the near future.Font Ghadir in Sliema is a linear, rocky beach popular for swimming and sun bathing. The smooth rock face enables beach users to enjoy the sun between dips. Beach Management was a success from its first year of operation in 2010. ECOLOGICAL VALUE - ST GEORGE'S BAYA number of important marine habitats are found in St. George's Bay. The bay hosts two species of seagrass - Neptune Grass (Posidonia oceanica) and Lesser Neptune Grass (Cymodocea nodosa). Seagrasses are very productive and provide important nursery, breeding and feeding habitat for several species of fish and invertebrates such as snails, shrimp, crabs and sea urchins. Posidonia oceanica is only found in the Mediterranean and therefore its conservation is very important.A number of algal forests (seaweed) are located on the rocky seabed skirting St. George's Bay. Algal forests have high ecological value because they support an extensive diversity of marine fauna. Although seaweed communities are quite common they are sensitive to pollution and habitat modification. They therefore act as bioindicators because the health of these communities provides an indication of the general quality of the environment in the area. GOLDEN BAYGolden Bay has a high ecological value through the diminishing sand dune remnants that host significant endemic and indigenous flora species. Important geological features include clay slopes, scree slopes and a spectacular, sandy beach of Ghajn Tuffieha, close by. Golden Bay is protected and forms part of the Majjistral Nature and History Park. MELLIEHA BAYMellieha Bay is one of the largest sandy beaches and is situated on the Northern part of Malta. It has a Nature Reserve which is a Bird Sanctuary. Ghadira Nature Reserve was once a salt flat that was given as a gift to feudal landlords who served the King of Sicily. During the Middle Ages, salt in Europe was referred to as ‘The White Gold'. The nature reserve now hosts wetland flora and bird species that are rare to the Island. St. Agatha's Tower overlooking the wetland, was built by the Knights of St. John. Mellieha Bay is a rural beach surrounded by breathtaking views and interesting countryside that can be enjoyed for walks.
The Malta Tourism Authority invested resources to make the leap in the quality of the tourism product being offered. Until a decade ago Malta did not have beaches managed to international quality standards. During the past years, two beaches managed by MTA were awarded Blue Flag Status while another three beaches achieved a Beach of Quality Award.
QAWRA POINT AND FOND GHADIRIn 2010 the Authority extended its operations to start including rocky shores in its beach management programme. An upgrading and embellishment project was executed at Qawra Point in St. Paul's Bay. Qawra Point was a dilapidated coastal stretch in a tourist priority area. The project saw the transformation of this shoreline to a beach with full facilities and managed to achieve a Quality Award in the near future.Font Ghadir in Sliema is a linear, rocky beach popular for swimming and sun bathing. The smooth rock face enables beach users to enjoy the sun between dips. Beach Management was a success from its first year of operation in 2010.
ECOLOGICAL VALUE - ST GEORGE'S BAYA number of important marine habitats are found in St. George's Bay. The bay hosts two species of seagrass - Neptune Grass (Posidonia oceanica) and Lesser Neptune Grass (Cymodocea nodosa). Seagrasses are very productive and provide important nursery, breeding and feeding habitat for several species of fish and invertebrates such as snails, shrimp, crabs and sea urchins. Posidonia oceanica is only found in the Mediterranean and therefore its conservation is very important.
A number of algal forests (seaweed) are located on the rocky seabed skirting St. George's Bay. Algal forests have high ecological value because they support an extensive diversity of marine fauna. Although seaweed communities are quite common they are sensitive to pollution and habitat modification. They therefore act as bioindicators because the health of these communities provides an indication of the general quality of the environment in the area.
MELLIEHA BAYMellieha Bay is one of the largest sandy beaches and is situated on the Northern part of Malta. It has a Nature Reserve which is a Bird Sanctuary. Ghadira Nature Reserve was once a salt flat that was given as a gift to feudal landlords who served the King of Sicily. During the Middle Ages, salt in Europe was referred to as ‘The White Gold'. The nature reserve now hosts wetland flora and bird species that are rare to the Island. St. Agatha's Tower overlooking the wetland, was built by the Knights of St. John. Mellieha Bay is a rural beach surrounded by breathtaking views and interesting countryside that can be enjoyed for walks.