Campaign for swimmers' safety

The number of swimming areas barred to boats will be increased by 11 to 37 next month to ensure more safety.

Each zone will be clearly marked by red and yellow buoys and some will provide a passageway for boats to go through when launched or are being towed back ashore.

The Malta Maritime Authority has also set a speed limit of 10 knots in 24 bays, which have buoys with a flashing yellow light and a radar reflector.

The berthing system at the Blue Lagoon, in Comino, has also been reorganised. A temporary pontoon has replaced a damaged jetty in the vicinity and several anchoring sites were designated.

The swimming area, expanded past the small sandy beach, was closed off with steel cables to keep the boats out. The bay is very popular in summer and boats constantly transporting people to and from the surrounding bay could pose a danger to swimmers.

The authority, together with the police, will enforce conservation regulations above shipwrecks, which are very popular among divers.

Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt welcomed the authority's initiative and said that in such a small country there was need to regulate the conflict between swimmers and boats. "Unfortunately, the sea is almost as congested by boats as the streets are by cars, mostly along the north eastern coast, where there are most bays" he said.

kbugeja@timesofmalta.com