European and African seabird experts from 11 countries today started discussions on the designation of protected areas in the Mediterranean at an international seminar held in Valletta. The seminar aims to establish criteria for the designation of protected areas at sea through seabird research.

The designation of Marine Special Protected Areas (SPAs) is an EU obligation under the Birds Directive. The deadline for member states to present proposed marine protected areas in their national waters to the European Commission was 2008. To date only Malta and one other EU member states have no marine SPAs for seabirds.

“Since insufficient scientific data is available for designation of marine SPAs in the immediate short-term, Malta commenced work in line with the approved EU Natura 2000 rolling plan, and is actively involved in the formulation of a ‘National Marine Protected Areas Strategy’, with the aim of setting up a plan to identify other marine protected areas in Malta, and notes that the results of the EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater project, expected next year, will most likely assist MEPA in this work,” said Darrin T. Stevens, Manager within the Environment Protection Directorate, MEPA.

The EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater project has been gathering scientific data through cutting edge research, showing marine areas used by Maltese Yelkouan Shearwater to feed, raft, and migrate. This data is expected to be a valuable tool for the identification of Maltese Marine SPAs in line with MEPA’s national strategy.

Scientific data from other Mediterranean seabird research projects is also being gathered through the seminar with an aim of increasing international cooperation, thus facilitating the designation of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean Sea.

“The protection of these marine areas will guarantee the survival of Europe’s seabirds and safeguard marine food sources and habitats on which a wide variety of marine life depends. Ultimately, man stands to gain through robust fish stocks and an increased marketable recreational value of these areas,” said Dr. Ivan Ramirez, BirdLife International’s European Marine Coordinator.

The outcome of the international seminar will serve as an important tool for Mediterranean governments to initiate and support research into the identification of Marine Special Protection Areas.

During the opening speech of the international seminar, Joseph Mangion, BirdLife Malta president commented, “We are pleased to see that the Maltese government is taking this issue seriously and is willing to contribute to further research to help Malta achieve its EU obligations. Malta’s commitment to take the lead on seabird research in the Mediterranean will clearly put Malta on the map for international seabird research.”

The EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater project is a partnership between Heritage Malta, the Malta Maritime Authority, the Malta Centre for Fisheries Sciences the Armed Forces of Malta and BirdLife International partners in the UK, Portugal and Malta. The project is 50% sponsored by the EU Life Unit with additional support from MEPA and HSBC Cares for the Environment Fund.

Photo: Experts from 11 Mediterranean countries are meeting in Valletta this week to discuss the designation of Marine protected areas in Malta and the rest of the Mediterranean. Photo by Frank Dhermain.

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