update (02 December 2022): According to a posting by the Mossel Bay Municipality on facebook, most beaches in and around Mossel Bay will be cleaned by the end of this weekend, dependent on the 3.5m swells expected last night (01 December 2022).
update (01 December 2022): The Mossel Bay Municipality has released an update on the beach clean-up. The current status according to the colour or flag system (Green being a cleared beach, orange containing contaminants and red highly contaminated) is as follows:
Blue Flag beaches:
- Santos - Green
- De Bakke - Green
- Hartenbos Platform - Green
- Klein Brak - Green
- Glentana - Green
Rest of the beaches moving from west to east (excluding the Blue Flag beaches):
- Kanon - Orange
- Fransmanshoek - Orange
- Vleesbaai - Orange
- Boggomsbaai - Orange
- Danabaai - Red
- Point - Green
- Diaz - Green
- Twee Kuilen - Orange
- Bayview - Orange
- Hartenbos Main - Orange
- Hartenbos rivermouth - Orange
- Reebok - Red
- Tergniet - Red
- Suiderkruis - Orange
- Herham - Orange
- Outeniquastrand - Orange
Clean-up teams working their way from Diaz to Hartenbos and from Glentana to Hartenbos.
update (01 December 2022): Four out of the five Blue Flag beaches in Mossel Bay have been declared green since yesterday (30 November 2022). Queries regarding Dana Bay and Diaz Beach have been received. Environmental Management teams from the Mossel Bay Municipality confirmed last night that these beaches were still classified as orange (Green being a cleared beach, orange containing contaminants and red highly contaminated). Clean-up activities will recommence at 08:00 today.
update (30 November 2022): The Mossel Bay Municipality has released an update on the beach closures in Mossel Bay due to contaminants resembling tarlike balls or oil pellets being found. A flag system has been put into place indicating the state of the beaches being green, orange and red. Green being a cleared beach, orange containing contaminants and red highly contaminated. On 30 December 2022 the following areas have been declared green and open to the public:
- Point
- Santos
- De Bakke
- Hartenbos Platform
- Glentana
Mossel Bay boasts five Blue Flag beaches. Tomorrow, 01 December 2022 as the Blue Flag season starts, the flags will be hoisted at Santos, De Bakke, Hartenbos Platform and Glentana. Cleaning operations will continue. Washing stations have been supplied at beaches to assist beach goers in cleaning.
The Mossel Bay Municipality announed on 29 November 2022 that several beaches along the Garden Route in Mossel Bay have been closed to the public. The Blue Flags will not be raised at any of the Blue Flag beaches in Mossel Bay until the beaches are safe againfor public use. The Municipality was being notified on 28 November 2022 of an oil or hydrocarbon substance sticking to beach-goers’ feet who were walking between Hartenbos and Bayview beaches. Additional reports of the hydrocarbon substance were also received regarding Santos beach, similar to that seen at Hartenbos beach. Another report was received from the Stranded Marine Animals Rescue Team (SMART) regarding an oil spill in Kanon.
Clean-up teams have been deployed and are working to isolate the oil spill and clear beaches so they can be re-opened in time for the coming holidays. A ask team has been deployed to establish the source of the pollution and to assist with effective clean-up efforts.
The following beaches are closed till further noticed for public safety:
- Hartenbos
- Diaz
- Santos
- Kanon
- Danabaai
- Klein Brak
- Suiderkruis
- Souweisa
Glentana main beach is clear. Therefore, the Blue Flag will be raised on 01 December 2022 should it remain clear of any contaminants.
