BEACH ETIQUETTE

One thing is good - we are all like Count Monte Cristo, and quite possibly the E.coli that recently affected the Germans cannot get the better of us because we receive a dose of this infection every year. So, it is summer, it is hot, and whoever doesn't have the chance to get out of the country or simply can't afford a holiday away from home is going to the seaside - to relax, sunbathe, splash in cool water and get refreshed. 

But as was the case last year, two years ago and, in fact, at all times, beach-lovers are about to see a not very pleasant picture in the coastal zone. There is an informal tradition on Baku beaches - if an area has not been transformed into a tea-house or a cafeteria, holiday-makers will have to put up with plastic bags, empty bottles, rotting bits of fruit, cigarette butts and other detritus of human activity scattered around them. These are left behind by other holiday-makers. Yes, it is bad, it is evidence of a poor level of culture, but the overall infrastructure of Baku beaches is not conducive to cleanliness either. And people seem not to be surprised by the lack of rubbish bins and containers, not to mention the fact that a public utility worker is never seen on the beach. Whereas rubbish collection in the city is organized relatively well, although it is certainly far from being perfect, the beaches appear completely inaccessible. Additionally, Baku beaches, except for some privately owned areas, have practically no changing rooms, free shower rooms, toilets or other infrastructure that is available in all municipal beaches of Europe.

Despite the presence of municipalities in Azerbaijan, it remains unclear whose responsibility it is to exercise control over beaches. A source from the Mayor's Office of Baku told R+ that every beach is part of a certain municipality, which means that cleanliness and order on these territories are the responsibility of local government. A Baku municipality which is home to the most popular beaches has said that the cleaning of coastal areas requires funds that local governments don't have. Most of the schemes which these governments operate do not function. This mainly concerns the collection of taxes. At the same time, the source added that there is no strict administrative division of beaches in Baku, while district authorities are reluctant to share the power with local government, thinking that beaches fall within their own jurisdiction. 

But holiday-makers couldn't care less about who has the jurisdiction over a beach. What matters more for them is cleanliness. And there is no guarantee that a clear administrative division will automatically result in clean beaches. Unfortunately, we are still too far from the municipal, i.e. public beaches of Spain. Special vehicles and motor-boats collect garbage from the beaches and the water every evening in Spain. Sun loungers and parasols cost 4 euros in Spain, but you don't have to buy them because the coast is full of shops where you can find anything a holiday-maker needs for very little money. There are free shower and changing rooms where, strange as that might seem, no-one would even think of relieving themselves. 

In France, for instance, private ownership of seaside areas is limited. The sea is owned by the state, while the boundary of the sea on the shore is determined by the invisible line the highest wave can reach in the most ferocious storm. So one can swim and sunbathe everywhere. Nevertheless, there are beaches on the Cote d'Azur, and these can be owned by beach clubs and hotels. Pay-beaches mean places of recreation which include sun loungers, parasols, shower rooms, toilets, changing rooms, cafes, bars, restaurants, waterborne entertainments (scooters, motor-boats, etc.). The cost of services at these beaches largely depends on their location. Pay-beaches are separated from free ones by a symbolic fence which never reaches the water. Municipal beaches are free, but are still immaculately clean and have changing and shower rooms and toilets.

In Greece, all beaches are also municipal. Why Greece? Because this country is a world leader for the number of blue flags awarded to countries for their clean beaches. A total of 387 Hellenic beaches have been awarded a blue flag, which means that Greece accounts for 10 per cent of all the beaches in the world to have received this mark of distinction. The rankings include 41 countries, while 3,012 beaches and 638 waterscapes have been awarded. The web site of the founder and international coordinator of the FEE, the Foundation for Environmental Education, says that the program on the evaluation and certification of beaches is supported by 63 countries. The blue flag is annually awarded to different resort areas following tests of the water and sand. Also taken into consideration are such parameters as unhindered access, regular rubbish collection, surveillance and rescue services, emergency aid, availability of shower rooms, a ban on pets on the beaches and the absence of motor traffic. We are still very far from all this.

Officially, Baku beaches are also considered free, and city authorities have already made a statement in this regard. The Mayor's Office of Baku has said that it will conduct raids to identify those charging payment for access to beaches. "Access to all beaches in Baku is free. Only access to certain tourist zones and facilities of national importance may be restricted. But all seaside beaches should be accessible. Payment may only be charged for services provided on the beach, e.g. use of sun loungers, parasols, changing and shower rooms, etc. But it is prohibited to charge money for entering the beaches, and such instances will be viewed as an offence. The Code on Administrative Offences envisages penalties for that. Cases were registered in the past, and administrative sanctions were taken against those culpable. Raids will be resumed with the start of the beach season," the source said. 

As far as safety is concerned, the situation is in order. The Ministry of Emergency Situations is entering the beach season booted and spurred. According to the head of the state service for water rescue at the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Rauf Salimov, the service has 42 rescue stations, as well as rescue posts and search groups. Of these, 24 are located in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula, while 18 operate in other adjacent water basins. There are rescue boats on the water and ambulances on shore. Whoever tries to use a beach that has been closed because of unclean water will have to rely on themselves - rescue workers stress that they will not work in such places.    

As for hygiene and the notorious coliform bacillus, the national center of hygiene and epidemiology has completed an examination of sea water samples taken from Absheron beaches. This is part of an annual prophylaxis campaign to prevent cholera and intestinal diseases that runs from late May to 1 October when the water temperature reaches 17 degrees Centigrade. The monitoring has led to a ban on swimming at Sixov and Sahil beaches in Sabayil and Qaradag districts respectively, as well as at Sumqayit beaches. As in previous years, these beaches have registered microbiological pollution. However, there are Counts Monte Cristo who, ignoring the instructions, carry on swimming there. As for other beaches, it is safe to go to the beaches in Bilgah, Buzovna, Mardakan, Pirsagi, Nardaran, Novxani, Corat and others. Microbiological surveys have established that the number of coliform bacilli does not exceed the permissible norm.