A Marine Protected Area (MPA) is a defined marine area, which together with its fauna, flora, historical and cultural features is protected through legislation. An MPA may also include the immediate coastal environment.

Establishing MPAs is one way of protecting the marine environment through sustainable resource management.

The area between Irdum Majjiesa and Ras ir-Raheb is being proposed as an MPA since previous studies have already identified the importance of its conservation.

Where has such an area been designated?

The area between Irdum Majjiesa and Ras ir-Raheb, on the northwest coast of Malta, is being proposed as a marine protected area, so that the flora and fauna it supports, as well as its historical and cultural features, are protected through legislation. The public and interested parties were invited to participate in a consultation exercise on the compilation of a management plan which is now in its final stages.

Why was this site chosen for designation as a MPA?

This site is a representative of all major marine habitats and seascapes occurring around the Maltese islands (e.g. sandy and cobble beaches, boulders screes, sheer cliffs). Also, some coastal and marine geomorphologic features found in this area are rare in the Maltese islands (clay slopes, sea level promontories, semi-submerged caves, marine stepped drop-offs). Finally, there are a number of species and habitats that they form, which are very important in the area:

Vast meadows of the Neptune Seagrass (Posidonia oceanica, alka in Maltese)

Date Mussel (Lithophaga lithophaga, tamra);

Noble Pen Shell (Pinna nobilis, nakkra);

Star Coral (Astroides calycularis, qroll tad-dell;

Coralline algae (Lithophyllum incrustans).