PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Bitou Municipality has been forced to review its regulations regarding dogs on its beaches after one of its six Blue Flags had to be lowered recently.
The Blue Flag status for Robberg 5 was lost on 18 March. However, Bitou Municipalty has addressed the issue in the interim and the flag has been reinstated.
Bitou Mayor Dave Swart said beachgoers have been raising concerns for a long time about dog owners' increasing lack of compliance with 'no dogs allowed' signs and the requirement to clean up after their dogs on beaches.
"Plettenberg Bay has for some time been struggling with cooperation with these regulations by some dog owners - in particular, the rules regarding no dogs allowed and the demarcated areas where dogs on leashes are a requirement."
Swart said some dog owners have shown disregard for these rules on numerous occasions, even along Plett's Blue Flag beaches, and were at times even abusive to law enforcement officers when advised of the correct areas for walking dogs.
"Repeated complaints around dogs being on Blue Flag beaches in Plett, particularly Robberg 5 beach, have been received by Wessa, the controlling body for Blue Flag status."
This resulted in Bitou Municipality being instructed by Wessa on 18 March to remove the Blue Flag at Robberg 5 beach pending corrective action to ensure the beach remains dog-free as per the Blue Flag requirement.
"It has been experienced in some towns that the loss of Blue Flag status leads to a decrease in the number of tourists," Swart pointed out.
He said because of the behaviour of some errant dog owners, the Bitou Municipality was forced to review the rules surrounding the access of beaches for dogs and will announce amended rules in due course.
"Plettenberg Bay is renowned for its world-class, pristine beaches. The World Travel Awards recently crowned the town as 'Africa's Leading Beach Destination' in 2020.
On top of this the town's beaches have over the years regularly received Blue Flag Beach accreditation.
"Currently six of our beaches have been awarded Blue Flag Status. These accolades give visitors to Plett the assurance of a premium beach experience."
The Blue Flag status of Robberg 5 was reinstated on 16 April.
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