The planning authority is calling on volunteers to support the collection of data in a project aimed at gaining a better understanding of the bottlenose dolphin and loggerhead turtle populations within Maltese waters and the type of local habitat which may be essential for their survival.

Loggerhead turtles and bottlenose dolphins are protected by the EC Habitats Directive and other multilateral agreements to which Malta is a party.

There is a lack of comprehensive information regarding these species and any essential habitats in Malta. To adequately protect these species, there is a need to first understand their status and gather knowledge on the type of habitat that may be essential for them. This is the aim of the Life+ Migrate Project.

The project should lead to the identification of potential feeding areas or important migratory routes, if these are found to be present, and the protection of such important sites.

“The need to halt biodiversity loss has become one of our and Europe’s main challenges, not only for the short term but also for the foreseeable future... such loss is always worrying but it becomes even more so when one realises that it is in decline globally often as a result of human activities,” Environment Minister Leo Brincat told a press conference attended also by the Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Michael Falzon.

The Life+ Migrate Project has a budget of nearly of €1 million, 50 per cent of which is co-financed by the EU LIFE Fund. The project commenced in October 2012 and will run until April 2016.

More information about the project can be obtained on 2290 7108 or 2290 7103, through lifeprojectmigrate@mepa.org.mt or here.