Referring to the proposed development of a new quarry in the ODZ Wied Moqbol, BirdLife Malta has stated that "it strongly opposes this planned development."
BLM said that, "this will mean the further destruction of pristine, green land, strictly protected under the EU's Birds and Habitats directives as a Natura 2000 site and the development will further continue to disturb and destroy an internationally important seabird colony of two seabird species, the Scopoli's and the Yelkouan Shearwater, the latter being listed as Vulnerable (Redlist of the IUCN – International Union for the Conservation of Nature)."
Both species are sensitive towards light and noise pollution and further development and excavation works will clearly put their nesting habitats at risk.
In view of the above mentioned facts, BirdLife Malta said that it "insists that all stakeholders in the decision making process, in particular MEPA, continue to live up to their responsibilities and halt this unnecessary and destructive development in an ODZ."
Photo of Scopoli Shearwaters by Aron Tanti