Malta is best loved for our culture, food, and deep blue seas. Yes, we have tried to diversify our tourism product, and we have also tried to broaden our own horizons in terms of culture.

But at the end of the day, tourists and locals alike flock to our limited beaches and coastlines, quite simply because we have dazzling blue sea, comfy sandy beaches or exciting rocky ones for those who are that way inclined.

Last week, Minister Austin Gatt announced that the number of swimmer zones in Malta has been increased from 26 to 37 this year, welcome news indeed. Yet on the Saturday issue of this newspaper, a photograph on the front page featured a speedboat leaving Golden Bay’s shallows with a para-kite in tow, just metres away from people bathing on their lilos. That is a measure of how much is left to be done.

The new swimmer zones and ‘boat lanes’ are set to become operational in mid-June while the Blue Lagoon’s new regulations are set to take effect this month. With all due respect, if one were to tour Malta’s coast, we can see that locals and holidaymakers alike are already taking to the sea like ducks to water. This year is this year, but next year, the season should be moved to mid-May rather than mid-June, after all, people take to their boats before people take to the sea for a swim and all should be in place – allowing the boating community to get used to new restrictions before the bathers gather en masse.

Another positive note is that the Malta Maritime Authority has purchased a boat which has a double pronged use – it is there to lend a hand to the police in enforcement, while at the same time serving as an educational vehicle. One is sure that a presence at sea will lead to less abuse. There will be a 25-strong team that will carry out patrols on land and at sea. It’s a bit on the light side – especially as the police are already overstretched, but it should help matters somewhat.

The introduction of 19 small speed marker buoys in bays to complement five larger speed markers in major lanes is also a plus, but, with the Maltese being Maltese, it will take some time (perhaps more than a few summers) to change the mentality of the minority that give a bad name to others.

Dr Gatt said that some 170 people were charged with boating contraventions last year, but if we were to be completely honest with ourselves, you could rack that count up in just one summer week.

At the end of the day, this is another instance where we need to change our mentality. Just as pedestrians and motorists still haven’t got to grips with the fact that they need to respect each other, the same goes for swimmers and boaters.

We cannot carry on with the mentality that the sea is mine and mine alone to do what I please in. We must realise that with every action comes a consequence. We cannot have speedboats close to shore, just as much as we cannot have swimmers out in the currents of Golden Bay when the red flag is up. We also cannot have swimmers out to sea beyond the swimming zones, just as much as we cannot have jet skis zigzagging in bays thronged with people.

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While we are at it, we need to also tackle the issue of littering at beaches (which has improved somewhat), barbecues on sand and the complete take over of beaches by umbrella/sunbed lenders. The beaches are a public space are they not? PS Jason Azzopardi has pledged to give public land back to the people and he has taken action. This could be a tough, yet very welcome nut for him to crack.