BEACH

MALTA 2016

Map of Managed Beaches Inside ’s Managed Beaches & Quality Awards

. St. George’s Bay Mellieha Bay Golden Bay Qawra Point Bugibba Pearched Beach Fond Ghadir Beach Ta’ Fajtata Beach

Wied Il-Ghasri Wied Il-Mielah Xwieni Qbajjar Bay Bay San Dimitri Point Gordan Marsalforn Ta’ Pinu Lighthouse Salt Pans Bay Basilica ZEBBUG GHASRI MARSALFORN Ramla Bay GHARB San Blas Crafts Village XAGHRA Bay Inland Sea SAN Dahlet Qorrot LAWRENZ Ta’ Kola Bay Windmill KERCEM Ggantija Temples Fungus Rock Sports NADUR FONTANA VICTORIA Grounds (RABAT) Craig QALA Wardija Point Kenuno XLENDI Hospital Tower Qala Point Xlendi MUNXAR XEWKIJA GHAJNSIELEM Qala Battery Bay . SANNAT Heliport Fort Hondoq Ir-Rummien Pretty Bay Birzebbuga Ghajn Tuffieha Ramla l-Hamra Bay Marsalforn Bay Chambray San MGARR Niklaw (HARBOUR) Bay Santa Ta' Cenc Cliffs Blue Marija Mgarr Lagoon Bay Ix-Xini Santa Marija Santa Marija Battery Tower Comino Ahrax Point White Tower White Tower Bay Armier Bay Rdum CIRKEWWA Ferretti Tal-Madonna Battery Wied Musa Code of Conduct for Maltese Beaches Paradise Bay Battery

Red Tower Mellieha Bay Ghadira Imgiebah Native Bay • All beach staff and lifeguards are there for your assistance and Reserve Ghajn Hadid ST. PAUL’S Westreme Battery Tower ISLANDS safety and are to be treated with respect. National Anchor Bay MELLIEHA Aquarium Qawra Point Mistra Bay Salina Bay • Swimmers are requested to remain in the swimming zone XEMXIJA QAWRA Ghallis Rocks Ghallis Tower Hondoq ir-Rummien Xlendi Bay Blue Lagoon ST. PAUL’S BUGIBBA BAY Qrejten Point • Never swim under the influence of alcohol or medications Mizieb MANIKATA Qalet Marku Simar Native Bahar ic-Caghaq • Children are their parents’ or guardians’ responsibility at all Reserve Bay Golden Bay BURMARRAD Tower times and are to be accompanied by an adult when in the water PEMBROKE Ghajn Tuffieha St. George’s Bay Bay BIDNIJA Madliena GHARGHUR Battery • Distributing samples or leaflets require a permit from the Local MGARR s SWIEQI Gnejna Bay Lippija Fort PACEVILLE Dragonara Point Mosta Kaptan Council or MTA ZEBBIEGH Victoria Line Tower ST. JULIAN’S Skorba Balluta NAXXAR Bay Ta’ Hagrat Capua Fort s MOSTA • Impromptu beach games such as volleyball and football are Fomm Dome IKLIN Ir-Rih Bay Victoria Line SAN GWANN Dragut Point Victoria GZIRA Marsamxett tolerated provided that they do not cause nuisance to others Technopark Harbour Line Mater Dei Manoel Fort Ta’Qali National LIJA BALZAN Hospital Island VALLETTA s Bingemma Football TA' XBIEX BAHRIJA Stadium BIRKIRKARA Ricasoli Point • Swimmers with a medical condition are advised to swim with a Nadur San Anton St. Philip Grand Wied Ghammieq Harbour Tower MTARFA Palace & Gardens FLORIANA TA' QALI MSIDA Boffa friend National Park ATTARD SANTA VENERA St. Luke's Waterfront Fort KALKARA Fort Ras Il-Gebel MDINA Aviation Museum Mriehel St. Angelo Ricasoli Crafts Village Domus Romana SENGLEA • It is advisable to make use of protective sun creams VITTORIOSA XGHAJRA RABAT Mt. Carmel Gorf L-Abjad QORMI MARSA ST.Paul’s Catacombs Kordin COSPICUA Fort Santa Maria Bay Ramla Bay Resort Mtahleb St.Agatha’s Catacombs Marsa St. Leonard St.Paul’s Grotto Sports Grounds HAZ-ZEBBUG Golf Club PAOLA FGURA St. James It is prohibited to: Hypogeum ZABBAR Handaq Horse Race Track Tarxien Zonqor Point Verdala Palace St. Vincent Temples • Litter, throw cigarette butts in the sand, bury waste material or DINGLI De Paule Buskett Gardens LUQA TARXIEN Marsascala Bay Bulebel SANTA dispose of it in the sea LUCIJA MARSASCALA Girgenti Palace SIGGIEWI ZEJTUN St.Thomas • Allow animals (except guide dogs) on sandy beaches other than Laferla Cross GHAXAQ Bay Dingli Cliffs on those specified ‘Dog friendly Beaches’ in the Criminal Code MARSAXLOKK Clapham Junction MQABBA KIRKOP Malta GUDJA International Airport • Dig holes of a dangerous size in the sand Dalam Xrobb L-Ghagin QRENDI Cave Hagar Qim BIRZEBBUGIA Fort • Make any form of fire on the beach Mnajdra SAFI St. Lucian Peter’s Pool

Ghar Lapsi Pretty Fort Bay Marsaxlokk Delimara • Drive motorized units on the beach XAROLLA ZURRIEQ Wied Bay Iz-Zurrieq Blue Grotto Malta Malta Delimara • Erect tents or attach sheets or towels to umbrellas HAL-FAR Freeport Point Wied Iz-Znuber Hasan’s Cave • Play loud music, create loud noise or use foul language that Edge Lido Paradise Resort The Westin Dragonara Resort effect the enjoyment of others • Damage any beach or promenade items or furniture; offenders will be prosecuted BEACH NEWS 2016 Another massive record in Quality Awards for beaches in 2016!

Golden Bay finally achieves a Blue Flag this year! The first beach management pilot project on Golden Bay started in 2002 with the assistance of the Boy Scout Association. The bay had been awarded a Beach of Quality for sustainable beach management, every year since 2009.

Hondoq ir-Rummien and Marsalforn Bay, both managed by the Ministry for Gozo (MOG), achieved a Beach of Quality Award for the first time. The Ministry for Gozo will be working hard to upgrade these awards to Blue Flags for next year. While managing a further three beaches on Comino and Gozo, MOG will be offering full beach services including lifesaving and supervision. Gozo also boasts of a Blue Flag at ir- Ramla l-Hamra sandy beach which is being managed by the Hondoq ir-Rummien Gaia Foundation. Bay Gozo Marsalforn Bay Gozo

Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, Westin Dragonara Resort and Ramla Bay Resort are all working hard on beach management with the former two earning a full Blue Flag this summer.

Lido’s Edge Paradise Bay Resort Hotel

Ramla Bay Resort Hotel Marfa

Westin Dragonara Resort Beach Lido The MTA is keeping up with international standards of sustainable beach management on eight beaches. Apart from Golden Bay, a further five of the eight beaches achieved a full Blue Flag status award yet again. The MTA is giving its input on a total of 18 beaches that will be managed from the 1st June till the 30th of September.

Barbeques at Golden Bay and Ghadira Bay-Mellieha (rocky area only) will be taking an environmental turn for the better with the update of the Mellieha Local Council By- Law, where ONLY LPG gas fired BBQ’s will be permitted. All Barbeques will require a permit (downloadable from the local council’s website against a minimal fee).

Accessibility at Għadira Bay is being enhanced by a 150 metre walkway cutting across the middle bay, linking the disabled parking slot with the portable disabled toilet, the sandy beach and ultimately the sea. Sand wheelchairs, or as popularly known, beach trotters are also available on the two accessible beaches of Għadira Bay. Beach trotters can roam on the soft sand and keep going into the water and stay afloat. They can be used free of charge by those with impaired mobility assisted by another family member or friend.

Other beaches will have better accessibility this summer with the introduction of more wooden walkways, more sand wheelchairs, and a lifter or two.

New recycling bins were installed at Golden Bay and Ghadira Bay. New colours on the waste bag are being introduced in an effort to facilitate recycling on beaches. Recycling waste responsibly is of utmost importance for the country and to retain the quality awards achieved over the years. An ongoing campaign will be taking place throughout summer on the beaches and in the media.

‘Beat the Burn,’ (BTB) is one of the campaigns organised by the Malta Medical Students Association (MMSA). It’s main aim is to raise awareness on the dangers of excessive UV exposure from the sun’s rays, as well as the necessity of proper sun protection. MMSA distributes information which can help people avoid the harmful effects on the skin and eyes. This campaign is possible with the support of La Roche Posay and the Malta Association of Dermatologists and Venereologists. Keep on the look-out for MMSA members who will be going around the beaches near you this summer! https://www. facebook.com/mmsa.scoph.beattheburn

Stay Healthy Smoke Less is part of the Butts Off campaign in an effort to enjoy beaches free of cigarette butts! Portable cigarette ashtrays will be at your disposal on the beach and thank you for keeping our beaches clean! Few of the proposed Blue Flag activities for this Coast to coast walk from Ghadira Summer • Bay to Golden Bay • Pottery session A visit to Ghadira Nature Reserve • with school children • A visit to Majjistral Visitor Centre • T-Shirt painting at Pretty Bay A visit to the Malta National • Aquarium

Snorkelling and exhibition with • model displays • Beat the Burn with MMSA • Jellyfish awareness Lecture • Cigarette butt campaign activities • Swimming with tuna • Nature walk Golden Bay • Astronomy event with telescopes • Sunset Walk • A visit to a greenhouse

Beach Safety Flags

GREEN YELLOW RED RED OVER BLACK & RED OVER PURPLE FLAG FLAG FLAG RED FLAG WHITE FLAG YELLOW FLAG FLAG CALM MEDIUM HIGH WATER WATERCRAFT SWIMMING MARINE WATER HAZARD HAZARD CLOSED TO AREA AREA WITH PESTS PUBLIC USE LIFEGUARD PRESENT SUPERVISION Butts off Campaign

THANK YOU for keeping our beaches clean!

Beach Management Unit LA ROCHE-POSAY Product Development Directorate LABORATOIRE DERMATOLOGIQUE Malta Tourism Authority ANTHELIOS Auberge d’Italie, Better skin protection for you Merchants Street, and your loved ones. Valletta, VLT 1170 Recommended Tel: 2291 5000 suncare brand Email: [email protected] by dermatologists www.visitmalta.com/blueflag