All 16 beaches which were tested by the Environment Department each week between May and September passed the minimum European standard, and 13 achieved the top ‘guide’ standard.
It is believed that the three beaches which reached only the minimum standard – La Haule, Rozel and Bonne Nuit – may have been more greatly affected by run-off from the land during wet weather.
In 2013 Bouley Bay and Bonne Nuit were the only two beaches to reach just the minimum standard.
The overall pass rate – or ‘guide’ standard – for Jersey was 81 per cent, in comparison to the UK’s pass rate of 78 per cent.
The 13 areas which achieved the highest results in the tests, which were carried out to European standards, were Bouley Bay, Victoria Pool, Havre des Pas, Green Island, Grouville, Archirondel, Grève de Lecq, Plémont, Watersplash, Le Braye, Beauport, St Brelade and Portelet.
Environment Minister Steve Luce, said: ‘Our results continue to compare well with those in the UK and reflect the department’s efforts to raise awareness of the causes and impact of water pollution.
‘There is still work to be done and we are addressing that by raising awareness of possible causes of marine pollution, but I’m confident that we are on the right track.’
Keith Beecham, chief executive of Visit Jersey, said that the Island was known for its beautiful beaches and that the quality of the sea water was an extremely important element of the Jersey product that they are offering to tourists.
‘The news will be welcomed by everyone in the tourism industry as well as Island residents,’ he added.
Last summer, volunteers collected more than half a ton of rubbish in just over an hour during an Islandwide beach clean.
A carpet, large rusty nails and a small bottle of the chemical methanol were just some of the items found during the event.
Around 80 volunteers swept the shorelines of a number of beaches across the Island, including St Ouen’s Bay, St Aubin’s Bay, Grève de Lecq and Bouley Bay. They collected a total of 533 kg of rubbish.
This included plastic bottles, disposable BBQs and lobster pots which had washed onto the shores – through no fault of the fishermen.
Ashley Johnson, who organised the event with his girlfriend Sadie Norman, said it was important to clean the beaches to protect the safety of Islanders and wildlife.
‘I am absolutely stunned at how much rubbish we collected and how many people turned up. It just shows that people do care,’ he said.
