Visitors to Golden Bay may have seen a wiggly yellow line on a map of the bay, displayed near the bottom of the car park. It shows a snorkel trail along the rocky side of this popular coastal spot.
Zoning different parts of a bay into different areas (swimming, sailing, surfing, diving ) is the mark of a beach aspiring to the Blue Flag scheme.
Placed next to the beach information board, the presence of the map has helped this popular bay gain ‘beach of quality’ status. This is granted once a beach has achieved 70 per cent of Blue Flag criteria aimed at improving the beach experience.
The yellow wiggly line is so far just a suggestion, a line on a map. However, another project bent on increasing marine awareness is set to develop the idea of a snorkel path further. Wrapping up after a span of three years, the latest MedPAN project has looked at promoting tourism through biodiversity as one of the many activities seen through to the finish line.
Two underwater trails, one for Golden Bay and one for its wilder neighbour, Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, are planned as part of the MedPAN North project which comes to fruition this year.
The 2010-2013 project involved 12 partners from six countries aimed at improving the effectiveness of management at Marine Protected Areas and establishing a network of such areas in line with European and international commitments.
To ensure adequate recruitment of young marine organisms to replenish and sustain fish populations within MPAs, the size of the protected area is important. A large area from northern Gozo to Pembroke, taking in also Comino, has been designated a marine protected area, with waters off Dwejra, Mġarr ix-Xini, Rdum Majjiesa and Filfla also protected.
Networks of MPAs provide important links needed to maintain ecosystem processes and improve resilience by spread of risk as in the case of localised disasters, climate change, failures in management or other hazards. This helps ensure the long-term survival of the species involved.
Coastal and marine ecosystems are in decline worldwide. Overfishing, runoff of nutrients and other land-based pollutants, habitat degradation and the increasing impacts of climate change are leading to ecosystem collapses in all the major coastal and ocean regions of the world. Globally, 80 per cent of the fisheries stocks are either fully exploited (producing catches that are close to their maximum sustainable limits) or over-exploited, depleted or recovering from depletion.
Effective, area-based protection, through marine protected areas, helps maintain ecosystem health and productivity, while safeguarding social and economic development. These areas also help maintain the full range of genetic variation, essential in securing viable populations of key species, sustaining evolutionary processes and ensuring resilience of ecosystems in the face of natural disturbances and human use.
Fishing inside marine protected areas of Malta and Gozo is not yet regulated beyond what the Department of Fisheries requires in all local waters. Five or six years down the line, implementation of site management may bring about more zoning, subject to stakeholder consultation.
MPAs are being established worldwide and have an important role to play in protecting and in some cases restoring ecosystems.
Malta’s involvement with MedPAN North includes engagement with five other North Mediterranean countries (Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Slovenia). The focus revolves around innovative aspects of MPA management and sustainable tourism.
The two proposed underwater trails have already been surveyed by professional divers and divided into 11 stations according to habitats and species. These include areas of sand, pebble, algae and boulder along with the various marine species associated with them.
Underwater signposting naming the species to be found in each section will be installed. A booklet for snorkellers is also planned. If successful, these underwater trails may be repeated in other areas.
As part of the MedPAN project, the Maltese unit has commissioned a study of the endangered ‘fan mussel’ or noble pen shell (one of the world’s largest sea-shells known to measure up to one metre or more). Populations were recorded at 12 individuals overall, although none were found at Mġarr ix-Xini, a popular dive site.
Up to one-third of the pen shell (Pennis Nobilis or nakra) is buried in sediment. This bi-valve is threatened by human activities such as anchoring or illegal collection. Project leaders urged that even dead shells should be lefton the seabed for purposes of monitoring.
Another survey was carried out on alien species, including three types of seaweed, which have found a way from their own natural environment into Maltese waters as a result of human activity. Species can invade ecosystems as a result of dumping of waters from aquariums, sea transport and have been known to hitch a ride on a marine turtle.
Alien and invasive marine species from the Indo-Pacific ocean have been making steady progress along the Suez Canal ever since its completion in 1869. A species which preys on other fish or becomes dominant can change the food chain leading to ecological and social impacts. Divers who were engaged to carry out the surveys in Malta expressed surprise at the high number of alien species (mostly invasive seaweeds) they encountered.
Of less concern are an invasive crab and a marine snail, both alien to the waters of Malta and Gozo.
Led by Darrin Stevens, ecosystems unit manager at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the MedPAN North project with a budget of €142,000 also aims to compile a record of known marine habitats and associated sub-types within the 25-mile nautical zone of our islands. The work of Prof. Patrick Schembri was acknowledged in developing a methodology tool which can be applied in other countries.
Posidonia beds, submerged caves and rocky or biogenic reefs made of organic material are all EU-recognised habitats. Underwater caves, which can be partly or entirely submerged, are notoriously difficult to survey.
A MedPAN South project aims at supporting MPA creationand management in the southern and eastern countries of the Mediterranean.
Libya’s environment authority has been working on identification of new marine and coastal areas, mainly lagoons, to be protected along its coastline together with the World Wildlife Fund.
These marine protected areas have been described as “a successful way of reconciling conservation with sustainable economic development”.