The Killifish Buzaqq Conservation Project, aimed to raise awareness and educate the public about the importance of preserving the species, was launched this morning by Nature Trust (NTM) and the Malta Aquaculture Research Centre (MARC) within the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, with the support of Bank of Valletta, the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
The killifish is a small fish endemic to the Mediterranean andfound mainly along the central to eastern coastlines of the Mediterranean Sea and around islands such as Sicily, Corsica and Malta.
“Genetic tests have shown that every population is different, making the local Maltese population unique. In Malta, however, this fish is endangered and in urgent need of proper management by competent institutions to prevent the degradation of its habitat that is negatively affecting the species,” NTM executive president Vincent Attard said.
The project includes captive-breeding programmes and securing a viable population in captivity as well as the effective and sustainable management of the Natura 2000 site at il-Magħluq in Marsaskala.
Ray Caruana, from the MARC, said that up to a few years ago, the killifish was found in both Il-Magħluq, Marsaskala and Il-Ballut, Marsaxlokk.
However, anthropogenic activity led to heavy decline in the stocks at both sites, with the population at Il-Magħluq being wiped out completely.
A small population from Il-Ballut was taken to Il-Magħluq by NTM volunteers during the 1990s to restart the population there.
They succeeded but in the meantime conditions at Il-Ballut did not improve and the Marsaxlokk population faced extinction. The habitat at Il-Magħluq was now rather poor with many negative pressures, including dumping and severe pollution, which led to the decline in numbers of the killifish in this area as well.
NTM is also lobbying to get the fish recognised as Malta’s national fish.
“This status would increase awareness about this endemic fish, and help ensure the proper conservation of this species. A successful breeding programme, coupled with the willpower and proper management of both Il-Ballut and Il-Magħluq can result in the reintroduction of such species in both sites and will serve to increase the population numbers of the killifish and allow the species to thrive once more,” he said.