PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Various role players have come together to tackle dog waste and other dog-related issues along Plettenberg Bay's beaches in an effort to keep the town's Blue Flags hoisted.
Over the past few years, a partnership between the Nature's Valley Trust, Plett Tourism and the ratepayers' associations of Plettenberg Bay and the Bitou Municipality has seen several areas along the coastline being earmarked for various dog-related activities, including areas where owners can allow their dogs to enjoy the beach off-leash.
Other areas have been demarcated for dogs on leashes and others where no dogs are allowed. These areas run all the way from the Robberg Peninsula to Nature's Valley.
Recently, Sotheby's International Realty has come on board to take this a step further through a public/private commitment. Sotheby's has provided sponsorship to encourage others to recognise the importance of the Blue Flag status of Plett's beaches and the need for the beaches and birdlife to remain untouched while enabling holidaymakers to enjoy their beach time, be it with or without dogs.
The sponsorship covers a public awareness campaign that includes signage for demarcating dog zones, additional dog waste bins, dog waste bags on dog-friendly beaches and the sponsorship of a permanent clean-up crew at key dog zones three times per week with the Keep Plett Clean campaign. This initiative is set to run for 18 months.
Plett Tourism chief executive Patty Butterworth says the Plettenberg Bay area has "fantastic diversity" in both fauna and flora and, to celebrate this, the area was classified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) by Birdlife South Africa in 2015.
To maintain this status, she says, the town has zoned beaches in a way that protects shorebirds while also being inclusive to both dog owners and holidaymakers that enjoy the beaches.
"Additionally, it is important that Plett maintains its current six internationally recognised Blue Flag status beaches as a unique selling point for the town. Plett has the most Blue Flag Beach awards along the Garden Route - a wonderful accolade that puts Plett in the forefront when tourists are selecting a beach holiday," Butterworth said.
She encourages visitors and residents to keep an eye out at beach entrances for the correct regulations, as well as the transition zones and dog-friendly zones marked with clear signage. She also encouraged dog owners to keep dogs on leashes when required as these are high-density shorebird nesting areas.
No dogs are allowed on any of the area's Blue Flag beaches at any time. "Lastly, the town kindly asks that individuals clean up dog waste at all times and place the bags in the bins provided." Non-compliance to these regulations are subject to a R500 fine.
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