On May 14, 2025, the Ministry of the Environment launched the National Beach Cleaning Program, as part of the 2023–2025 framework agreement. This initiative will cover 133 beaches across the country, with an annual budget of 1.8 million dinars.
The program began this year with the beaches of Raoued and El Kram, as noted by Nabil Mokhtar, head of beach development studies at the Coastal Protection and Planning Agency (APAL), during his interview on national radio on May 20, 2025.
Regular and Large-Scale Cleaning Operations
The program includes regular interventions, scheduled from 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM throughout the summer season, lasting until September. Each cleaning operation will be carried out either manually or with machines, covering a total area of 600 hectares of beach. Cleaning teams will be deployed across all the beaches included in the program.
The total annual cost of the program is estimated at 1.8 million dinars, which represents the maximum ceiling of the framework contract for this period. The objective is to ensure the continuous cleanliness of beaches and effectively combat pollution.
Despite the scale of the operation, the Coastal Protection and Planning Agency is facing a shortage of human and logistical resources. “APAL only has 114 monitoring agents, even though the country has 82 public beaches and 51 tourist beaches,” Mokhtar explained.
He also pointed out that the governorate of Sousse, despite its coastal and touristic significance, has only one monitoring agent, while the governorate of Medenine has just two. However, he noted that APAL receives support from the Coast Guard and the Ministry of Equipment, although these resources remain insufficient.
“Some beaches are not covered by this national program, but cleaning efforts can be carried out in cooperation with local municipalities to support their initiatives,” he added.
On another note, Nabil Mokhtar mentioned several violations observed on beaches, especially regarding pollution and illegal construction that does not comply with regulations. He called on citizens to take responsibility for maintaining beach cleanliness and to use waste collection facilities properly. He specifically noted that some garbage bins had been installed on certain beaches but were removed due to misuse.
