Il-Magħluq tal-Baħar (limits of Marsascala)

Il-Magħluq tal-Baħar is a small saline marshland with a brackish water pool housing peculiar salt-tolerant marsh communities and critically endangered protected species, that include the Maltese killifish.

Il-Magħluq tal-Baħar was originally two interconnected fish ponds lined with layered stones. The brackish water found here forms as a result of freshwater from the surrounding fields and rainwater entering the pool that mix with the seawater that enters through the connection under the road. Il-Magħluq together with il-Ballut, both situated in the limits of Marsaxlokk are the only two remaining marshes in the south of Malta. It supports a good community of species based on various salt tolerant and wetland plants such as rushes.

The invertebrate fauna associated with the marshland vegetation is also quite diverse.

This Natura 2000 site will be subject to the preparation of a management plan and/or legislation in the near future, as part of an EU-funded project that Mepa is undertaking for the management planning all the terrestrial Natura 2000 sites of the Maltese islands.