MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN MALTA. ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION DIRECTORATE 23 November 2015

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Trevor Edwards
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1 MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN MALTA ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION DIRECTORATE 23 November 2015

2 WHAT ARE MARINE PROTECTED AREAS?

3 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.

4 Key Protected Areas in Malta PROTECTED AREAS Special Protection Areas Birds Directive Special Areas of Conservation of International Importance Habitats Directive Special Areas of Conservation of National Importance Natura 2000 sites 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

5 DESIGNATION PROCESS

6 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.

7 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

8 Designation of SACs (Annex III of Habitats Directive) Stage 1: Assessment of Sites supporting Annex 1 Habitat Types and Harbouring Annex II species based on the following criteria: HABITATS Degree of Representativity Area Degree of conservation of habitat structure, functions and restoration possibilities Global Assessment of Conservation Value 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

9 Stage 2: Assess the sites at a biogeographical level based on the following criteria: a) Relative value of the site at National Level b) Total Area of the Site c) Number of Annex I & Annex II habitats & species respectively d) Global ecological value of the site at the level of the Biogeographic region &/or EU as a whole e) Relationship of the site to the migration route of or its role as a part of an ecosystem on both sides of one or more of the community frontiers

10 National List of Proposed sites classified according to their value for the conservation of each natural habitat type in annex I or each species in Annex II & with priority species or habitats indicated Submission of National List of potential Sites of Community Interest to European Commission Adoption of SCI Designation as Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

11 SITE DESIGNATION Habitats Directive Wild Birds Directive Habitat Types, Plants and Animals Selection Process Member State Proposal of Sites Selection of Sites within the EU (Community List) Darrin T Stevens Environment Protection Directorate Malta Environment & Planning 11

12 SACs of International Importance NATURA 2000 SITES

13 Sandbanks Reefs Selected Habitats to be considered Estuaries * Posidonia beds Submerged or partially submerged Submerged sea or partially caves submerged sea caves

14 Tursiops truncatus Gibbula nivosa Caretta caretta Selected Species to be considered Calonectris diomedea Puffinus yelkouan Hydrobates pelagicus

15 DESIGNATION PROCESS: PAST AND PRESENT

16 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 Further proposals were made in September , 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.

17 Natura 2000 Status Sufficiency in relation to the Habitats Directive & Natura Source:

19 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.

20 MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN MALTA

21 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.

22 MPAs in Malta

23 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

24 MPAs in Malta Relative to its size, the country with the largest contribution was Malta, with 183 km 2 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

25 MANAGEMENT OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

26 Management of MPAs To establish the necessary conservation measures and priorities for the management of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas, to meet the ecological requirements of the habitats and species for which the site is designated; Member States have six years from acceptance of the sites as Natura 2000 by the European Commission to adopt management measures

27 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;

28 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.

29 DESIGNATION PROCESS: FUTURE

30 Ongoing Activities 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).

31 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).

32 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

33 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.

34 Ongoing Activities

35 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;

36 Ongoing Activities Stakeholder involvement and participation

37 Ongoing Activities Awareness: promotion through biodiversity tours, communication and awareness campaigns, underwater trail, and related issues

38 THANK YOU For further Information:

Brussels in Brief. Natura 2000 A Safety Net for Europe s Nature

Brussels in Brief. Natura 2000 A Safety Net for Europe s Nature Brussels in Brief Brussels in Brief is a regular feature of the IUCN Newsletter produced by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) in Brussels. It provides a platform to explain the substance