Designated Dog Friendly Beaches

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As of July 2023, a total of 16 designated beaches (12 in Malta and 4 in Gozo) are officially recognised as dog-friendly.

1. Rinella Bay Kalkara

2. Xatt is-Sajjieda Marsaxlokk

3. Tigne Point – Under the Tigne Pedestrian Bridge

4. Ramlet It-Torri (Mellieha)

5. Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq – Behind Splash and Fun

6. Imgiebaħ Bay - Selmun

7. Dahlet Ix-Xmajjar - Armier

8. Zonqor Point – Marsascala

9. Marsascala - St Thomas Bay (Munxar side)

10. Ċirkewwa -Ir-Ramla ta’Wied Musa

11. Mellieħa Ramlet il-Qortin

12. Birżebbuġia – Near Sailing Club

13. Gozo - Trejqet Mgarr ix-Xini – Ghajnsielem (Ras il-Ħobż)

14. Gozo -Mġarr - Il-Bajja ta' Gorgun

15. Gozo- San Lawrenz - Il-Bajja tad-Dwejra

16. Gozo – Żebbuġ - Il-Bajja tal-Qbajjar

Where else can dogs swim?

Besides these 16 beaches, dogs are also permitted to swim in any non-designated bathing area.

Who decides whether a beach is dog-friendly or not?

The decision to declare a beach dog-friendly lies with The Environmental Health Directorate and the Superintendence of Public Health upon suggestions made by the Animal Welfare Directorate.

Which law regulates dog-friendly beaches?

The prohibition of dogs from beaches is related to water quality and bathing water profiles which is regulated by SL465.09 Art 19. This is based on scientific research as well as WHO guidelines which show that bacteria from dog waste affect the classification and quality of bathing water and in turn put people’s health at risk.

Blue Flag Beaches

During the summer months dogs are not allowed on Blue Flag beaches. These beaches are considered the best high-quality beaches according to the International Blue Flag eco-label for Sustainable Development. In the summer they are demarcated with a blue flag. Malta usually qualifies to have around 10 to 12 Blue Flagged Beaches every year.

Sandy Beaches

Except for Mġiebaħ Beach (which is an official dog-friendly beach) dogs are NOT allowed on any sandy beach, at any time of year. This ban applies to dogs on the sand and in the water of any sandy beach in Malta and Gozo at any time. This is down to the fact that any dog waste on sand is easily absorbed by the sand and people, especially children playing on the sand, can easily come in contact with it.

Rocky Beaches

Dogs are allowed on all rocky beaches (except Blue Flag ones) all year round. But if a rocky beach is an official bathing area, dogs are not allowed in the sea. There are 87 Official Bathing Areas in Malta and Gozo. Bathing areas are not beaches and are also different to swimming zones. One beach can have several bathing areas (eg. Għadira Bay in Mellieħa has 5 bathing areas) . These areas are from where water samples are collected by the WRAU and EHD to certify the quality and safety of the water. Dogs are not allowed to swim in any of these bathing zones, but they are allowed to stay on the rocks. Owners are still obliged to keep their dogs on a leash and to clean up after their dogs. Swimming zones can be found in bathing areas and non-bathing areas – these are demarcated with buoys during the summer months, so that boats cannot enter the bay which ensures swimmers’ safety.

What can happen if you break the law ?

Breaching SL465.09 the first time could land you a fine of between €232 and €4658 and/or not less than six months imprisonment. On second conviction the fine goes up to a minimum of €465 and a maximum of €11,646 and/or not less than two years imprisonment.

Bajjiet għall-klieb – Dog friendly beaches

Minn Lulju 2023, total ta’ 16-il bajja (12 f’Malta u 4 f’Għawdex) huma uffiċjalment rikonoxxuti bħala bajjiet għall-klieb.

1. Il-Bajja tar-Rinella - Kalkara

2. Xatt is-Sajjieda - Marsaxlokk

3. Tigne Point – Taħt il-pont

4. Ramlet It-Torri - Mellieha

5. Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq – Wara Splash and Fun

6. Imġiebaħ Bay - Selmun

7. Daħlet Ix-Xmajjar - Armier

8. Żonqor Point – Wied il-Għajn

9. Sant Tumas (in-naħa tal-Munxar) – Wied il-Għajn

10. Ir-Ramla ta’ Wied Musa - Ċirkewwa

11. Ramlet il-Qortin - Mellieħa

12. Birżebbuġia (in-naħa tas-sailing club)

13. Trejqet Mgarr ix-Xini – Għajnsielem (Ras il-Ħobż)-Għawdex

14. Il-Bajja ta' Gorgun – Mġarr-Għawdex

15. Il-Bajja tad-Dwejra – San Lawrenz-Gozo

16. Il-Bajja tal-Qbajjar – Żebbuġ-Għawdex

Fejn iżjed jistgħu jgħumu l-klieb?

Minbarra dawn is-16-il-bajja, il-klieb jistgħu jgħumu wkoll fi kwalunkwe żona li mhux bathing zone.

Min jiddeċidi jekk bajja tkunx dog-friendly jew le?

Id-deċizjoni biex bajja tkun iddikjarata bajja dog-friendly hija tad-Direttorat tas-Saħħa Ambjentali kif ukoll tas-Supretendenza tas-Saħħa Pubblika fuq suġġerimenti li jkunu saru mid-Direttorat tal-Animal Welfare.

Liema liġi tirregola il-bajjiet tal-klieb?

Il-projbizzjoni tal-klieb mill-bajjiet hija marbuta mal-kwalità tal-ilma għall-għawm li hija regolata mil- LS465.09 Art 19. Dan huwa bbażat fuq riċerka xjentifika kif ukoll fuq linji gwida tal-WHO li juru li batterji mill-ħmieġ tal-klieb jaffettwaw il-kwalità u l-klassifikazzjoni tal-ilma għall-għawm, u dan jista’ jwassal biex is-saħħa tan-nies tkun f’risku.

Bajjiet tal-Bandiera Blu

Matul ix-xhur tas-sajf il-klieb mhumiex permessi fuq il-bajjiet li jġorru il-Bandiera Blu. Skont l-‘International Blue Flag eco-label for Sustainable Development’ dawn il-bajjiet huma kkunsidrati bħala bajjiet tal-aqwa kwalità. Fis-sajf dawn ikunu mmarkati b'bandiera blu. Kull sena, ġeneralment, Malta tikkwalifika biex ikollha madwar 10 sa 12-il Bajja b’Bandiera Blu kull sena.

Bajjiet bir-Ramel

Ħlief għall-Bajja tal-Mġiebaħ (li hija l-unika bajja uffiċjali għall-klieb), klieb MHUX permessi fuq l-ebda bajja bir-ramel, fi kwalunkwe żmien tas-sena. Din il-projbizzjoni tapplika għall-klieb f’kull bajja bir-ramel f’kull ħin (kemm fuq ir-ramel kif ukoll fl-ilma) f’Malta u Għawdex. Dan minħabba li kwalunkwe ħmieġ tal-klieb fuq ir-ramel ikun faċilmet assorbit mir-ramel u minn nies, speċjalment mit-tfal li jkunu qed jilagħbu fuq ir-ramel, u li faċilment jistgħu jiġu f'kuntatt mal-ħmieġ tal-klieb.

Bajjiet tal-blat

Il-klieb jistgħu ikunu fuq il-bajjiet tal-blat kollha (ħlief għal dawk tal-Bandiera Blu) is-sena kollha. Iżda jekk bajja tal-blat hija uffiċjalment bathing area, fis-sajf, il-klieb ma jistgħux jitnizzlu fil-baħar. Uffiċjalment, f’Malta u Għawdex hawn 87 Bathing Areas. Bathing areas mhumiex bajjiet, u huma wkoll differenti minn dawk iż-żoni tal-għawm. Bajja waħda jista’ jkollha diversi żoni għall-għawm (eż. Il-Bajja tal-Għadira fil-Mellieħa għandha 5 żoni għall-għawm). Dawn huma żoni minn fejn jinġabru kampjuni tal-ilma mill-WRAU u l-EHD biex jiċċertifikaw il-kwalità u s-sigurtà tal-ilma. Il-klieb m'humiex permessi jgħumu f'waħda minn dawn iż-żoni tal-għawm, iżda l-klieb jistgħu jibqgħu fuq il-blat. Is-sidien huma obbligati jżommu l-klieb tagħhom b’ċinga u jnaddfu wara l-klieb tagħhom. Iż-żoni tal-għawm huma fil-bathing areas u f’non-bathing areas – dawn ikunu mmarkati b’bagi matul ix-xhur tas-sajf, sabiex id-dgħajjes ma jkunux jistgħu jidħlu fil-bajja biex tkun imħarsa s-saħħa u s-sigurtà tal-għawwiema.

X’jiġri jekk xi ħadd jikser il-liġi?

Il-ksur tal-liġi SL465.09, l-ewwel darba jista' jwassall biex persuna teħel multa bejn €232 u €4658 u/jew mhux inqas minn sitt xhur priġunerija. Meta persuna tinqabad it-tieni darba, l-persuna tista’ teħel multa minn minimu ta’ €465 sa massimu ta’ €11,646 u/jew mhux inqas minn sentejn priġunerija.