Dogs can swim at any rocky beach that isn’t marked as one of Malta’s 87 official bathing zones, Animal Welfare Commission Alison Bezzina has said as pleas to increase the current number of nine official dog friendly beaches in Malta and Gozo linger.
Since the prohibition of dogs swimming in certain bathing areas is related to water quality and bathing water profiles which are regulated by SL465.09 Art 19 (based on scientific research as well as WHO guidelines, explaining that bacteria from dog waste disturbs the classification and quality of bathing water which put people’s health at risk), the decision to declare a beach dog-friendly lies with The Environmental Health Directorate (EHD) and the Superintendence of Public Health upon suggestions made by the Animal Welfare Directorate, Bezzina noted.
A beach is not equivalent to a bathing area or to a swimming zone; a beach can have several bathing areas (Ghadira, for instance, has five bathing areas), where water samples are collected by the Water Regulatory and Auditing Unit (WRAU) and EHD to certify the quality and safety of the water, whereas swimming zones − demarcated with buoys, to prohibit boats entering the bay to safeguard swimmers − are located both in bathing areas and non-bathing areas, she said.
Furthermore, seeing as the composition of sand makes it a quick absorber and children enjoy playing with beach-sand, dog waste can quickly turn into a health hazard when absorbed by sand − besides being an odour and visual pollutant.
Hence, dogs are prohibited from all sandy beaches throughout the year, except for Mgiebah Bay, which is an official dog-friendly beach because the water quality is not tested by the WRAU.
The other eight dog-friendly beaches around Malta and Gozo have been given this designation since no official water quality testing is done there although the Health Regulation Department “still keeps an eye on the water-quality of these beaches,” she said.
The 8 official dog-friendly rock beaches in Malta Gozo
1. Zonqor Point – Marsascala
Google Location: https://goo.gl/maps/sdkFC5BYdX837g5f9
2. Bahar ic-Caghaq – Behind Splash and Fun
Google location: https://goo.gl/maps/avHk5oXwo4RBDgCf6
3. Rinella Bay, Kalkara
Google location: https://goo.gl/maps/g8WvVra1ocbU7VdGA
4. Xatt is-Sajjieda, Marsaxlokk
Google location: https://goo.gl/maps/N84uSmsWb21Z9Fk76
5. Tigne Point – Under the Tigne Pedestrian Bridge
Google location: https://goo.gl/maps/R78grktyoHyu83Cx9
6. Dahlet Ix-Xmajjar – Armier
Google Location : https://goo.gl/maps/UXNkwP5pbxMahXeu7
7. Gozo: Horizon Bay (limits of Xwejni area)
Google location: https://goo.gl/maps/MpVvcJxcRMsaJXVK7
8. Gozo: Trejqet Mgarr ix-Xini – Ghajnsielem
Google Location: https://goo.gl/maps/7ZW1PvvDceU6Knu87
A list of all bathing areas can be found here:
https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/environmental/Health-Inspectorate/WRAU/Pages/Official-Bathing-Zones.aspx
Blue Flagged Beaches official 2021 list:
https://blueflagmalta.org/beach-awards/blue-flag-beach