MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN MALTA

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION DIRECTORATE 23 November 2015

WHAT ARE MARINE PROTECTED AREAS?

MPAs Defined

1. Designated inshore and offshore areas to conserve the marine environment – offer protection to habitats, species and habitats important for certain species.

2. Specific set of regulations. 3. Terminology – MPA is a general term – SAC,

SPA, area around scuttled vessels, etc.

Natura 2000 sites

Key Protected Areas in Malta

Special Areas of Conservation

of International Importance

PROTECTED AREAS

Special Areas of Conservation

of National Importance

Special Protection Areas

Birds Directive Habitats Directive

Marine Protected Areas are declared under the

Environment & Development Planning Act

of 2010, with relevant provisions of the Habitats and Birds Directives being

transposed by Legal Notice 311 of 2006

DESIGNATION PROCESS

Identification of MPAs

1. Criteria mainly listed in the EU Nature Directives, particularly the EU Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC);

2. Habitats and species for which MPAs must be designated are also included.

Identification of MPAs

3. Assessment at national level of sites’ relative importance.

• Representativty, connectivity, area covered, conservation status, population density, isolation.

4. EU Process: SCI/SAC and SPA in relation to Natura 2000

Designation of SACs(Annex III of Habitats Directive)

Stage 1: Assessment of Sites supportingAnnex 1 Habitat Types and

Harbouring Annex II species based onthe following criteria:

• Degree of Representativity • Area • Degree of conservation of habitat

structure, functions and restoration possibilities

• Global Assessment of Conservation Value

HABITATS SPECIES

• Population Size and Density • Degree of conservation of the

features of the habitats that are important for the species and restoration possibilities

• Degree of isolation of the population in relation to the species’ natural range

• Global Assessment of Conservation Value

Stage 2: Assess the sites at a biogeographical levelbased on the following criteria:

a) Relative value of the site at National Levelb) Total Area of the Site

c) Number of Annex I & Annex IIhabitats & species respectively

d) Global ecological value of the site atthe level of the Biogeographic region &/or

EU as a wholee) Relationship of the site to the migration route

of or its role as a part of an ecosystem onboth sides of one or more of the community

frontiers

Designation asSpecial Area of Conservation

(SAC)

Adoption of SCI

Submission of National List of potentialSites of Community Interestto European Commission

National List of Proposed sites classifiedaccording to their value for the conservation of each

natural habitat type in annex I or each speciesin Annex II & with priority species or habitats indicated

Darrin T Stevens –Environment Protection Directorate – Malta Environment & Planning Authority –

11

Wild Birds Directive Habitats Directive

Habitat Types, Plants and Animals –

Selection Process

Member State Proposal of Sites

Selection of Sites within the EU

(Community List)

SITE DESIGNATION

SAC

s of

Inte

rnat

iona

l Im

port

ance

NATURA 2000 SITES

Submerged or partially

submerged sea caves

Selected Habitats to be considered

Reefs

Estuaries

Submerged or partially

submerged sea caves

* Posidonia beds

Sandbanks

Caretta caretta Tursiops truncatus Gibbula nivosa

Calonectris diomedea Puffinus yelkouan

Hydrobates pelagicus

Selected Species to be considered

DESIGNATION PROCESS: PAST AND PRESENT

Natura 2000 Status

• Malta proposed the eligible sites as potential Sites of Community importance (SCIs) under the Habitats Directive and as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the Birds Directive.

• The first submission made by Malta was in December 2004. Further proposals were made in September 2006-2011, the latter including new marine sites.

• Malta is considered well advanced in the Natura 2000 process, but is working to update the areas with further assessments in relation to the marine environment.

Sufficiency in relation to the Habitats Directive & Natura 2000

17 Source: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/barometer/index_en.htm

Natura 2000 Status

• The need of further marine data’ assessments was recognised by Malta and the National Environment Programme (NEP) and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), which include measures in this regard.

• Malta is required to designate further marine protected areas by end 2017, so as to be in line with national and international targets.

Natura 2000 Status

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN MALTA

MPAs in Malta

1. Five SCIs in the marine Natura 2000 network.

2. Mainly identified for Posidonia meadows and Gibbula nivosa.

3. Ongoing work on habitat and species assessments and mapping for the identification of other potential sites.

MPAs in Malta

• cover over 80% of Posidonia Beds. • with representativity of all subtypes. • over 18,000 ha

• host other habitat such as reefs & caves

• geographically well distributed

MPAs in Malta

• “Relative to its size, the country with the largest contribution was Malta, with 183 km2 of marine areas now designated, creating the basis for a solid marine network in the surrounding waters. The new Maltese marine sites will help the conservation of Posidonia sea grass beds and submerged reefs, and offer a vital habitat for the endemic Maltese Topshell Gibbula nivosa, a brightly coloured sea snail.”

• European Commission, November 2012

MPAs in Malta

MANAGEMENT OF MARINE

PROTECTED AREAS

Management of MPAs

• To establish the necessary conservation

measures and priorities for the management of Special Areas of Conservation and Special

Member States have six years from

acceptance of the sites as Natura 2000

by the European Commission to adopt

management measures

Protection Areas, to meet the ecological requirements of the habitats and species for which the site is designated;

Management of MPAs

To take appropriate steps to avoid the

deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species, as well as disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated;

Management of MPAs

Management measures which may be in the form of a plan.

May involve zoning, with different designations of MPAs within one site.

Stakeholder involvement. Enhancement of artisanal practices & niche tourism.

DESIGNATION PROCESS: FUTURE

• Three LIFE+ projects were proposed and accepted: Malta Seabirds (launched 2011); Migratory Turtles and Cetaceans (MIGRATE, launched 2012) and Marine Habitats (Baħar, launched 2013);

• Further research on marine species was promoted and/or commissioned, further monitoring continued where relevant, and conservation status assessment continued;

• Malta also designated five marine areas in the process on the basis of existing information and proposed them as Natura 2000 sites, the latest additions in 2011 (accepted by the EU in November 2012).

Ongoing Activities

Ongoing Activities

Designation: ongoing activities aimed at identifying new SCIs and SPAs in line with the Nature Directives;

This includes implementation of three LIFE+ Projects: • LIFE Malta Sea Birds (lead: BirdLife Malta); • LIFE MIGRATE (lead: MEPA); and • LIFE BaHAR (lead: MEPA).

Ongoing Activities

Carlos Minguell © LIFE BaĦAR for N2K/OCEANA

Carlos Minguell © LIFE BaĦAR for N2K/OCEANA Carlos Minguell © LIFE BaĦAR for N2K/OCEANA

Carlos Minguell © LIFE BaĦAR for N2K/OCEANA

Ongoing Activities

• Monitoring: initial assessment on selected

descriptors, including seabirds; • the development of an integrated National

Marine Monitoring Programme linking the EU Nature Directives, the EU Water Framework Directive, the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and various related multilateral environmental treaties.

Ongoing Activities

http://www.mepa.org.mt/water-msfd

Ongoing Activities

• Management: commencing work on the

management planning and development of programme of measures for the designated MPAs;

• Reporting: regular reporting as required, including updates the conservation status of habitats and species and implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan;

Stakeholder involvement

and participation

Ongoing Activities

Ongoing Activities

• Awareness: promotion

through biodiversity tours, communication and awareness campaigns, underwater trail, and related issues

For further Information: www.mepa.org.mt

THANK YOU