A university research project shows how wrecks are rich in marine life unless disturbed or affected by human activity, such as fishing, collection of organisms from wrecks, scuba divers or pollution from coastal activities.

The project, by student Jesmond Dalli, was undertaken at the university under the supervision of conservation biologist Adriana Vella.

It is one of a series of projects which show how different organisms and techniques may be used to answer questions relating to the marine environment's vulnerability and conservation.

Mr Dalli's project assesses the biodiversity richness on three reefs in Maltese coastal waters.

The studied reefs were the Rozi wreck in Cirkewwa, the Um El Faroud wreck at Wied iz-Zurrieq and the natural Merkanti Reef in St Julian's.

This year-long project surveyed each site on numerous occasions, sampling the biodiversity in different seasons and times of day.

The project also considered some of the effects of uncontrolled scuba activity at any one site. This was possible with the support of some local scuba centres, which realised the importance of maintaining local natural resources for the industry to be sustainable.

Another project, by Karen Sapienza and Andrew Amato Gauci, measured the genetic variability of marine organisms such as coastal limpets, Patella rustica and Patella caerulea, while Nathalie Zahra studied the genetic integrity of marine organisms such as sea cucumbers, Holothuria polii.

Dr Vella said that considering molecular genetics as a tool in conservation assessment was in the past not considered possible locally, especially in the marine field.

These research projects were therefore relevant and paved the way for diversifying the assessment and monitoring of the natural environment.

A project related to fishing in the Maltese islands and its impact on the marine environment was undertaken by Andrew Muscat with the collaboration of local fishermen.