Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront Marina has secured its eighth consecutive Full Blue Flag Marina status, highlighting the ongoing work to protect marine life and keep its harbour clean, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The recognition covers the 2026/2027 season and was confirmed on 8 October at the Blue Flag and Green Coast Award Ceremony at Grotto Beach in Hermanus. The event was hosted by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and the Overstrand Municipality.
The announcement comes as South Africa marks 25 years of the Blue Flag programme, alongside WESSA’s centenary.
For the V&A Waterfront, the achievement carries particular significance. Its marina operates within a busy working harbour where tourism, commercial activity and marine wildlife share the same environment.
Keeping those waters clean requires more than an annual assessment. It involves daily efforts to manage waste, protect wildlife and limit the impact of human activity on the surrounding marine ecosystem.
Cape {town} Etc Discount Alert!
Unlock Cape Town’s best experiences for half the price! From unforgettable adventures to hidden gems and mouthwatering restaurants, these limited-time deals won’t last long. Snag your discount before they’re gone!
The V&A Waterfront has introduced several initiatives aimed at maintaining the marina’s environmental standards while supporting the wildlife that calls the harbour home.
One of these is the Marine Wildlife Management Programme, run in partnership with the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation.
The programme focuses on monitoring, protecting and managing marine wildlife throughout the precinct, helping people, businesses and animals coexist in an environment shaped by both commercial activity and nature.
Daily marine clean-up operations also play an important role. The Waterfront’s marine team patrols the waterways and uses sweepers to collect litter and debris before it can accumulate in the harbour.
Trash-catching netting systems provide another layer of protection by capturing waste before it travels further through the harbour and potentially reaches the ocean.
Together, these measures support the Waterfront’s broader approach to responsible marine management, with the aim of protecting the waters that form part of one of Cape Town’s most recognisable destinations.
The latest award marks the marina’s eighth consecutive season of full certification.
The international Blue Flag programme is run by the Foundation for Environmental Education and managed in South Africa by WESSA. Marinas must qualify for certification every year, meeting requirements covering environmental management, safety, accessibility and environmental education.
The annual assessment provides an independent benchmark for environmental responsibility, rather than a once-off achievement that can be maintained without continued effort.
For a marina operating within a 123-hectare mixed-use precinct, that means balancing the demands of a busy destination with the need to protect its surrounding marine environment.
Graham Wood, CEO of the V&A Waterfront, said the recognition reflected the continued efforts of the marina team and its partners to maintain high environmental and operational standards.
He added that the Waterfront recognised its responsibility to protect the marine environment while ensuring its facilities remained safe, accessible and enjoyable for people using the marina.
Wood also highlighted the importance of communicating the Waterfront’s environmental work to the millions of people who visit the destination each year.
The recognition comes as research conducted by the V&A Waterfront points to strong visitor interest in marine conservation.
According to the destination’s second-quarter 2026 survey, caring for the ocean and its biodiversity attracted the highest level of interest among the 10 topics assessed.
Between July 2025 and June 2026, 87% of surveyed visitors said they were interested in learning more about the subject in relation to the V&A Waterfront.
That figure rose to 95% among international visitors.
The findings suggest that protecting marine environments is not only an operational responsibility for the Waterfront but also a subject that matters to the people who visit it.
For Cape Town, where the ocean plays a central role in tourism, recreation and the city’s identity, keeping harbour waters clean has significance beyond the marina itself.
WESSA senior programme manager for coastal programmes, Michael Denison, praised the Waterfront’s Blue Flag management team and marina staff for their continued commitment and collaboration.
He said the result reflected the marina’s dedication to maintaining high standards of environmental management, safety, accessibility and environmental education.
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Also read:
V&A Waterfront announces R230m superyacht marina in Cape Town
Picture: Supplied
