Marine caves, sand banks and reefs around the Malta are being studied as part of a €1.3 million four-year (2013-2017) project entitled Benthic Habitat Research for Marine Natura 2000 Site Designation (Bahar), funded by the EU under the Life+ programme.

The project aims to establish the locations and spatial extent of particular benthic habitats around the Maltese islands that enjoy protection under the EU’s Habitats Directive. The term benthic refers to any plants and animals living at the bottom of a body of water.

This research will help the authorities identify new marine protected areas to be proposed for designation as Sites of Community Importance as part of the EU’s Natura 2000 Network. The project is being coordinated by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The other partners of the pro­ject consortium are the University’s Department of Biology, the Environment Ministry, the Department of Fisheries and Oceana, an international NGO.

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