New Year's celebrations pollute Swakop beaches
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism might in the future seek police assistance to expel illegal overnighters from Swakopmund beaches and impose fines for littering.
Overnighting on beaches was banned in 2015 because holidaymakers left behind rubbish and damaged the ecosystems at Long Beach and Mile 4.
“We are left with no option but to call the police to assist us, because people do not want to cooperate,” said park warden Jeremia Lamek on Monday.
At the end of last year, the ministry made an exception allowing revellers to overnight on the beach without permits during the festive season, but only if they kept it clean.
But after the New Year's celebrations garbage was strewn on the beaches in the Dorob National Park.
Normally, visitors without a permit to overnight are expected to vacate the park by 21:00 or risk fines.
Lamek and 10 temporary cleaners from the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management Project (Nacoma) have been cleaning Long Beach every morning since the beginning of the 2016/17 festive season.
Lamek said many visitors spent the night on the beach on New Year's Eve and park wardens could not control them, hence the decision to call in the police next time.
On Monday, Mile 4 was still a mess, with ash and beer bottles scattered along the shore.
“Mile 4 is still dirty as we have been focusing on Long Beach where a lot of people were. But we will pick up the bottles and bury the ash,” said the warden.
Lamek's team will wrap up the cleaning campaign on Wednesday. Long Beach was clean by Monday.
“Over the festive season, I issued fines totalling to N$4 500. Mostly illegal quad biking and overnighting,” Lamek said.
Illegal quad biking and overnighting carry a N$500 fine, while an illegal fire on the beach incurs a fine of N$250.
Lamek urged revellers to pick up their rubbish when the party is over and throw it in the bins provided.
“The rule of thumb is whatever you bring in, take it out with you,” said Lamek.
NAMPA
Overnighting on beaches was banned in 2015 because holidaymakers left behind rubbish and damaged the ecosystems at Long Beach and Mile 4.
“We are left with no option but to call the police to assist us, because people do not want to cooperate,” said park warden Jeremia Lamek on Monday.
At the end of last year, the ministry made an exception allowing revellers to overnight on the beach without permits during the festive season, but only if they kept it clean.
But after the New Year's celebrations garbage was strewn on the beaches in the Dorob National Park.
Normally, visitors without a permit to overnight are expected to vacate the park by 21:00 or risk fines.
Lamek and 10 temporary cleaners from the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management Project (Nacoma) have been cleaning Long Beach every morning since the beginning of the 2016/17 festive season.
Lamek said many visitors spent the night on the beach on New Year's Eve and park wardens could not control them, hence the decision to call in the police next time.
On Monday, Mile 4 was still a mess, with ash and beer bottles scattered along the shore.
“Mile 4 is still dirty as we have been focusing on Long Beach where a lot of people were. But we will pick up the bottles and bury the ash,” said the warden.
Lamek's team will wrap up the cleaning campaign on Wednesday. Long Beach was clean by Monday.
“Over the festive season, I issued fines totalling to N$4 500. Mostly illegal quad biking and overnighting,” Lamek said.
Illegal quad biking and overnighting carry a N$500 fine, while an illegal fire on the beach incurs a fine of N$250.
Lamek urged revellers to pick up their rubbish when the party is over and throw it in the bins provided.
“The rule of thumb is whatever you bring in, take it out with you,” said Lamek.
NAMPA
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