NTM Welcomes the designation of Marine Protected Areas

Nature Trust (Malta) (NTM) has said that it welcomes the declaration on the Natura 2000 Marine Protected areas announced recently by the Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Environment. Nature Trust (Malta) has been lobbying towards the declaration of MPAs in Malta since 1986 and therefore such a move has long been awaited

NTM said that it now hopes that such designated sites are supported by the much needed law enforcement which today is also lacking on the terrestrial natura 2000 sites on the island.

At the same time the NGO said it wishes also to voice its disappointed that among the declared sites -Cirkewwa, Delimara and the whole of Comino have not been included for protection. In fact way back in 2001 Mepa had even committed EIPP funding for Cirkewwa and Delimara sites which never was taken up in conjunction with NTM .

NTM went on to say that it feels that such sites are not only of great biodiversity importance in both vertebrate and invertebrates, but also rich in posidonia meadows. Furthermore Cirkewwa has a very rich Posidonia oceanica community that stretch all the way north to Comino and easterly to Ahrax Point. Cirkewwa is one of the most popular dive site with both local and tourist divers. The NGO feels that such sites should also have been included since apart from ecological value these offer an economic value in this case diving tourism . Moreover, over the last months NTM has been receiving reports that Cirkewwa is popular with illegal fishing methods including nets and harpoon fishing methods causing harm to the marine Biodiversity and the diving industry.

NTM concluded by saying that it has been lobbying with its partners WWF European Policy Office on MPAs at EU level for the last few years.

Photo shows barracudas over the posidonia meadows by Joe Formosa