South Africa has revealed its 2025/26 Blue Flag and Green Coast honourees recently, celebrating 97 beaches, marinas, boats and coastal nature sites that have achieved top marks in environmental care, safety and sustainable tourism.
Wessa (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa), which manages the international Blue Flag programme locally, confirmed that this year 50 beaches earned full Blue Flag status, while 20 pilot sites, five marinas, seven tourism boats and 15 Green Coast locations met the strict global criteria.
The Blue Flag programme is an international environmental certification programme run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and can be awarded to beaches, marinas as well as tourism boats that meet 33 specific environmental and sustainability criteria. There are 51 countries globally that participate in the programme. In South Africa, Blue Flag is managed by Wessa, while internationally it is coordinated by FEE.
“We are delighted to host this celebration in our beautiful coastal town,” says Ndlambe Madam Mayor Khululwa Ncamiso. “Our shores are not only naturally breathtaking — they reflect the dedication we pour into maintaining Blue Flag standards year after year.”
As Wessa enters its 99th year of championing environmental responsibility, the Blue Flag and Green Coast awards continue to serve as key benchmarks, driving improved coastal management and sustainable tourism across South Africa’s 3 000 km coastline.
Blue Flag: Global standards, local action
Since 2001, WESSA has operated the Blue Flag Programme in South Africa on behalf of the international Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Supported by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the programme unites municipalities, tourism operators, and volunteers to maintain best practice in environmental management, safety, water quality and education.
“Our Blue Flag and Green Coast programmes are more than symbols; they’re a promise,” said Wessa CEO, Cindy-Lee Cloete. “Each flag represents South Africa’s commitment to environmental stewardship.”
What are the water quality requirements?
Blue Flag Beaches water quality sampling only takes place during the current season of the flag. Water quality sampling is done by an independent and accredited lab against a pre-determined schedule for the season. Results are shared directly with WESSA.New beaches need 20 water quality samples to qualify.
Once awarded, beaches must take a minimum of 5 samples per season evenly spread out, preferably every two weeks but not longer than 30 days between samples. Both E.coli and Enterococci must be tested for. E.coli limit is 250 cfu/100 ml and Enterococci is 100 cfu/100 ml.
Wessa posts the water quality results on the Wessa website for the duration of Blue Flag beach seasons. Should water quality fall outside the Blue Flag parameters, then the flag is lowered until a satisfactory sample, within a maximum of 10 days, is achieved.
2025/26 Full status Blue Flag beaches include:
- City of Cape Town: Bikini Beach, Camps Bay, Clifton 4th, Fish Hoek, Llandudno, Melkbosstrand, Muizenberg, Silwerstroomstrand;
- Overstrand: Grotto Beach, Kleinmond Beach;
- Cape Agulhas: Struisbaai;
- Hessequa: Lappiesbaai, Gouritzmond, Stilbaai-Wes, Witsand, Jongensfontein, Preekstoel;
- Mossel Bay: De Bakke, Glentana, Hartenbos, Kleinbrak;
- Bitou: Robberg V, The Dunes, The Waves, Singing Kettle, Nature’s Valley, Lookout;
- Nelson Mandela Bay: Hobie, Humewood, Kings;
- Kouga: Dolphin Beach, Cape St Francis;
- George: Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay, Wilderness;
- Ndlambe: Kariega, Kelly’s, Middle Beach Kenton;
- KwaDukuza: Blythedale, Salt Rock, Thompson Bay, Willard;
- Ray Nkonyeni: Hibberdene, Marina, Ramsgate, Southport, Trafalgar, Umzumbe, New St Michaels;
- Umdoni: Pennington.
2025/26 Blue Flag pilot sites (20)
- Overstrand: Castle, Hawston, Onrus;
- Mossel Bay: Santos, Suiderkruis, Tweekuilen;
- George: Leentjiesklip;
- Nelson Mandela Bay: Bluewater Bay, Wells Estate;
- Ray Nkonyeni: Port Edward, Mtwentweni;
- Umdoni: Rocky Bay, Preston, Umthwalume, Scottburgh;
- Buffalo City: Kidds Beach, Gonubie;
- Mandeni: Tugela Mouth, Dokodweni;
- Port Nolloth: McDougalls Bay.
Tourism boats and marinas leading the way
Seven tourism vessels earned Blue Flag status for the 2025/26 season for excellence in responsible tourism, environmental education and safety. These include:
- Marine Dynamics Shark and
- Whale Tours: Slashfin, Dreamcatcher, Whale Whisperer.
Five marinas achieved Full Blue Flag status for maintaining world-class environmental management and community engagement:
- Royal Alfred Marina;
- Thesen Harbour Town Marina;
- Thesen Islands Homeowners Marina;
- V&A Waterfront Marina;
- Club Mykonos Marina.
Coastal partnerships creating lasting impact
With 20 consecutive years as a Blue Flag partner, Ndlambe Municipality continues to set the standard for long-term coastal commitment.
“Through floods, storms and shifting tides, our community has kept the Blue Flag flying for 20 years,” said Fanie Fouché, Deputy Director: Community Protection Services.
Fouché highlighted that the programme has created thousands of seasonal job opportunities, boosted tourism and deepened youth participation in environmental projects. “It proves that real sustainability starts at community level.”
Growing the Green Coast network
Wessa’s home-grown Green Coast programme recognises natural, less-developed beaches and coastal spaces that balance biodiversity protection with nature-based tourism. This year, the network more than doubled to 15 certified sites, including:
- Blaauwberg Nature Reserve;
- Nature’s Valley;
- Walker Bay;
- Swartvlei Beach;
- Kei Mouth;
- Chintsa Beach;
- Morgan Bay;
- Qatywa, Lubanzi and Cwebe Beaches;
- Leisure Bay Conservancy;
- Trafalgar Marine Reserve and surrounds;
- J Bay Supertubes;
- Paradise Beach;
- Gwaing Beach.
“We started as four people walking our coastline during lockdown and today we are more than four hundred,” said Dr Deborah Robertson-Andersson, Green Coast implementer for Kei Mouth and Morgan Bay. “That’s the spirit of Green Coast: citizen science in action.”
