An international team of experts is conducting boat-based observations to identify important hotspots for bottlenose dolphins and loggerhead turtles with the aim of protecting marine areas essential for their survival.
The study would provide the scientific foundation to better run the areas and, through stakeholders’ involvement, such as fishermen and mariners, create the understanding necessary for effective management based on science.
“Malta is unique in terms of migratory species at sea,” Ricardo Sagarminaga, principal investigator for Kai Marine Services, told a press conference on the Life+ Migrate project.
Kai Marine Services is one of the partners in the project that has a budget of nearly €1 million, 50 per cent of which is co-financed by the EU Life Fund.
The need to halt biodiversity loss has become one of our and Europe’s main challenges
Other partners in the project, being led by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, include the Bank of Valletta and the Environment Ministry.
Mepa yesterday called for volunteers to support the collection of data.
The volunteers will be provided with training to be able to record sightings effectively.
The data collection will allow a better understanding of the population of the bottlenose dolphin and the loggerhead turtle 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 as well as numerous other multilateral agreements to which Malta is a party.
There is lack of comprehensive information on these species and any essential habitats in Malta. 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 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,” Environment Minister Leo Brincat said.
“Such loss is always worrying but it becomes even more so when one realises it is in decline globally, often as a result of human activities,” he added.
Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon praised the project’s positive message. “The project is based on international cooperation because the protection of migratory species affects the Mediterranean basin. This is something we would like to see more of at Mepa, even after the demerger,” Dr Falzon said.
Commenting on the expected split of Mepa’s planning and environmental functions, Mr Brincat said such projects showed it would not be “an acrimonious divorce but an opportunity for cooperation”.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the Life+ Migrate project can call 2290 7108 or e-mail lifeprojectmigrate@mepa.org.mt. For more information visit www.lifeprojectmigrate.com.