Mġarr ix-Xini bay has become the first Gozitan bay to be given the white flag beach status.  The white flag is a symbol that the bay and the surrounding area has been cleaned from all type of plastic and non-degradable material.

Minister for Gozo Justyne Caruana expressed her satisfaction at the news, saying that such initiatives are in line with the strategy that the Eco-Gozo department within her ministry has adopted.  She also announced that the same cleaning initiative will be carried out in the bays of Marsalforn and of Daħlet Qorrot in Nadur, before saying that the next step after this is that in a few years all of Gozo’s bays would obtain this classification. 

This would make Gozo the only Mediterranean destination with all its beaches being held to this standard.

Kristijan Curavić, the founder of White Flag International, praised Gozo and described it as a jewel within the Mediterranean.  Curavić, who has been working for the past 15 years in favour of the maritime environment, said that with a little effort from everyone, it can be made sure that the maritime environment and the environment of bays and beaches will be stronger and remain safe for future generations to enjoy.