Mariners warned off birds' breeding area

The Malta Maritime Authority has established a buffer zone extending 1.1 nautical miles from the shore at Rdum tal-Maddonna (L-Ahrax tal-Mellieha) to help protect a very popular breeding area for the Yelkouan Shearwater.

The authority said it had issued a notice to mariners warning all vessels and craft approaching this area to ensure that lights are switched off and no loud noise is allowed. The notice refers specifically to pleasure cruises operating as "floating discos" and also prohibits the letting off of petards and other fireworks from the sea. The buffer zone is a "no stopping zone" for all vessels other than vessels licensed to carry fishing activities, but such fishing boats cannot use strong lights.

The notice to mariners forms part of the Yelkouan Shearwater Project, being conducted by BirdLife and co-funded by the EU Life Nature Fund. An estimated 1,500 pairs of Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan) are known to breed on this part of the boast, which equals approximately 10% of the world's Yelkouan Shearwater population. The Yelkouan Shearwater Project conducted in Malta by Birdlife seeks to protect the birds at the largest breeding site, Rdum tal-Madonna (L'Ahrax tal-Mellieha).

Charles Axisa Marketing and Communications Manager at MMA said that abrupt light and noise could easily disturb the birds during the breeding season and cause them to desert the colony, hence the need for the notice.

More information about the Yelkouan Shearwater Project may be obtained from the project's dedicated website www.lifeshearwaterproject.org.mt