Works are ongoing to combat marine pollution, now through a collaboration between the Ministry, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), and the eNGO #Żibel.

This was announced by Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia who explained that this collaboration will include a number of initiatives, including the use and maintenance of a number of sea bins to trap small pieces of litter and plastic which are improperly disposed of and end up in the sea, harming marine ecosystems and living species.

The litter which will be trapped by these sea bins will later be analysed and studied in detail, and the related data will be used to develop new environmental initiatives to prevent some types of litter from eventually ending up in the sea.

The Minister spoke on the importance of collaborations with various stakeholders and environmental organisation for common aims: those of safeguarding our environment and the quality of life, and also the security of some economic sectors.

Works will also include a number of clean-ups on land and also clean-ups in marine-protected areas, monitoring of the seabed to identify new areas which can be cleaned, the retrieval of disused fishing material such as fishing nets, and also the exportation of collected material for recycling.

The Minister said that the information that will be collected through this collaboration will be crucial for Malta, as it will aid in other works being done to reduce marine litter and to create awareness on the harm caused by single-use-plastics—the same message conveyed during the Saving our Blue campaign.

This work is being carried out at the opportune time, as it is paving the way for the total prohibition of sale of single-use-plastics in Malta as from January of next year.

“While these initiatives are a clear example of how the Ministry continues to work with the different stakeholders in society in order to improve the quality of the environment around us, the public is asked to do its part for the marine environment on which marine creatures, ecosystems and the economy depend on. It is important for the public to protect marine protected areas, where no waste should be dumped,” said the Minister.

The Minister reiterated that Malta’s dependence on marine activities remains high when compared with other small island EU member states, and for this reason we should make use of this sector in the best possible way to generate wealth and employment. He said that the blue economy sector accounts for 15% of the Maltese economy and generates around 27,000 jobs. The Minister explained that it is crucial to find a balance between economic growth and environmental preservation, also because the two are intrinsically linked.

May 17 2021

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) Board has unanimously approved the renewal of the IPPC permit for the Thermal Treatment Facility in Marsa operated by WasteServ Malta Ltd during a public meeting that was held today, 7th May 2021.

The application process included consultation with a number of Statutory consultees as well as a public consultation as required by the IPPC Regulations.

The IPPC permit covers the continued operations of the installation at Marsa whose main activity involves the incineration of animal by-products and hazardous waste. The permit takes into account the holistic environmental performance of the plant and ascertains that the operations are undertaken in line with Best Available Techniques that are available for such operations and any required improvements are carried out in line with these standards. It is to be noted that the Authority has seen a drastic decrease in complaints on the operation of the facility, with no complaints registered in the 2021.

The integrated permit takes into consideration all the aspects of the operations including emissions to air, discharges, management of waste, monitoring of operations as well as monitoring of pollutants prior to release into the environment. The proposal approved includes measures to improve certain operational aspects of the site to further reduce the impacts on the environment.

All public consultation documents are available on the ERA website.

7 May 2021

A new software targeting primary school children with information on the sources of air pollution, ERA’s air quality monitoring network, the health effects of air pollution and the tangible actions citizens can take to reduce their contribution to air pollution, has been developed.

This was announced by Minister for Education Justyne Caruana and Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia.

The app, developed by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) in collaboration with education officers, is compatible with students’ school tablets (One Tablet Per Child Scheme) and includes two mini-games which will introduce children to the small changes they can make in their daily lives to have a positive impact on air quality.

Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia said that the fate of the planet is in the hands of our children, making it crucial for them to develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and make informed decisions. “On the other hand, air quality itself is a pressing issue during a time that public health in general is in the spotlight. In Europe, the air is cleaner today than it has been for the last two decades, which shows that policy actions and co-operation has had a positive effect. But more has to be done, and initiatives targeted towards the youngest members of our society are a step in the right direction,” the Minister said.

Minister for Education Justyne Caruana spoke about the importance of a holistic education. She said that, “An essential part of our children’s education is to ensure that our students are given more opportunities to broaden their knowledge beyond the traditional aspect of education, by providing them with the necessary tools so that they can also raise awareness on the subject.” Minister Caruana said that this is why she encourages schools to participate in the EkoSkola program, an initiative led locally by Nature Trust/FEE Malta, which is an international program for all schools, and which helps them towards education for sustainable development. She praised initiatives like the one launched today, as they provide an educational sphere that increases awareness about the importance of the environment.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) CEO Ms Michelle Piccinino emphasized that educational campaigns are crucial for environmental change. This educational game also complies with the public’s wish, expressed in a public survey, to get more information on tangible actions they may take to contribute to further environmental protection. This app is a clear example of ERA’s commitment towards the environment in every segment of our population, including children who are our future. ERA will continue with further educational campaigns, expert advice and relevant policy implementations to improve air quality and other environmental aspects for a better quality of life.

The app can be used by both science and class teachers to discuss topics related to energy sources and pollution, which are topics aligned to the Learning Outcomes for Primary Science. This collaboration and the resulting app reinforce both the application of science to daily life and the importance that each and every one of us plays, even from a young age, in maintaining a healthy environment.

4 May 2021

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and Ambjent Malta (AM) are working in tandem on a habitat restoration project in Comino. This project foresees the implementation of numerous management measures to improve Comino’s landscape and restore its habitats in line with the approved Natura 2000 Management Plan for the area. ERA and AM have been working on various projects on this island since 2017. In May 2021, ERA and AM will be showcasing the achievements obtained so far, whilst also implementing new restoration projects around the island.

ERA and AM will start implementing the following projects in the coming weeks, starting today with the first phase of the project aimed at the rehabilitation of the coastal wetland at Il-Qala ta’ Santa Marija, through the restoration of the habitat in the area. Works include:

  • Re-establishment of native marshland community to restore plant communities native to the area and attract migratory waders through the recreation of the two brackish water ponds;
  • Removal of invasive alien species planted and invading the area, including trees-of-heaven (ix-xumakk il-falz), wattles (l-akaċja) and prickly pear (il-bajtar tax-xewk);
  • Transplantation of six olive trees in view that these do not form part of the site’s native habitat composition;
  • Removal of makeshift structures and stone BBQs;
  • Restoration of rubble walls and retention walls.

ERA and AM will also showcase works that have been carried out in the past months, along with future plans, including:

  • Commencement of works leading to habitat restoration of three abandoned agricultural fields through the planting of over 3,000 indigenous trees and shrubs to be completed by spring of 2022
  • Increased protection of the endemic phrygana community (a type of garrigue habitat) found at the Bejn il-Kmienen/Blue Lagoon area through the installation of wooden cordoning to prevent trampling;
  • Removal of disused and unsightly electrical poles;
  • Improvement of fencing at Tal-Ful Camping Site and installation of CCTVs to improve enforcement;
  • Closure of numerous pathways to limit fragmentation of the various garrigue and grassland habitats present on the island;
  • General clean-ups to be carried out by ERA and AM on 3rd-5th May 2022;
  • Maintenance of past habitat restoration projects carried out with the assistance of Birdlife Malta;
  • Underwater and coastal clean-ups, including the removal of ghost fishing nets around Comino to be carried out between 3rd-8th May (subject to weather) with the collaboration of Żibel.

Over the coming days, ERA and AM will be issuing updates on the works carried out prior to the opening of the summer season. An opportunity will also be given to journalists to visit the island and see the works undertaken in the various sites around the island of Comino.

26 April 2021

The ERA Board has unanimously approved the Final Assessment for the proposed City Centre multi-use development bearing PA 03807/17 in accordance with all the mitigation measures present within the Environment Impact Assessment and conditions recommended.

As part of the development permit process for the City Centre multi-use development, including excavation of the former ITS, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) had requested an Environmental Planning Statement (EPS) in accordance with the former Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations. Furthermore, ERA had also requested Appropriate Assessments (AA) as per the Flora, Fauna, and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations since the said development is located within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) of International Importance of Żona fil‐Baħar fil‐Grigal ta’ Malta (MT0000105) and L-Inħawi ta’ Pembroke (MT0000002).

The Authority had provided its Assessment and Recommendations along with the development conditions in May 2018 on the original proposal.

In 2020, a revised version of the development was submitted by the project proponents and the ERA requested a statement from the EIA Coordinator who carried out the EIA Report for the previous development proposal to confirm or otherwise whether the proposed material changes vis-à-vis the downscaling of the project are likely to change any of the findings and conclusions of the EIA carried out for the earlier version of the proposal. A similar statement was requested for the AA undertaken for the same project. The statements and information presented were assessed by the Authority’s Directorate. The assessment takes into account the conclusions of the EIA consultants’ updated evaluation of the proposal as part of the EIA and AA processes, including any relevant ancillary documentation as well as the comments received from the public concerned following a 30-day public consultation. Through the assessment of the updated documentation on the EIA and AA, the Authority’s Directorate concluded that the level of significance of the environmental impacts from the 2020 proposal remain unchanged and that the findings and conclusions of the original EIA and AAs are still valid.

In this regard, the main points of concern as per ERA’s ‘Report on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the Appropriate Assessment (AA) – May 2018’) relating to Ħarq il-Ħammiem cave as well as infrastructure, air quality and effects on terrestrial SAC were reiterated in the Final Assessment. Specifically, the mitigation measures as well as the methodologies as proposed by the Geo-Technical Engineers in their declarations with respect to Ħarq il-Ħammiem cave, along with other measures were recommended for inclusion as conditions to the development permit.

In this regard, the Final Assessment prepared by the Directorate was referred for the consideration of the ERA Board in line with the EIA Regulations. The decision taken by the ERA Board on 23rd April 2021 confirmed the Final Assessment put forward by the Directorate, which position will be submitted to the Planning Authority to be taken into consideration during the decision-taking on the application for the development permit on the proposed development.

23 April 2021

Following several media reports, ERA would like to clarify that the application that was determined by the board regarding works at Blue Lagoon in Comino was received following action taken by ERA, whereby the works that were being undertaken were in breach of a clearance issued by ERA.

The ERA Board’s decision was taken on the grounds that the proposed continuation of works included mitigation measures to curb environmental damage and to continue the works in a manner that does not impinge on the natural integrity of the area. The existing passageway formed part of the established network of passageways on Comino.

Following an in-depth evaluation of the overall situation on the site, the proposed works in the environmental application were recommended for approval subject that these are undertaken in line with the conditions proposed in the environmental permit. ERA has imposed a specific permit condition to provide a Restoration Plan for remedial works on the area that was impacted by works carried out so far and prior to the issuing of the environmental permit. The objective of the required restoration plan is to reinstate the impacted area to its former natural state and is to be submitted within one month. Permit conditions have also been included, such that these works are closely monitored by an ecological monitor. This shall be nominated by the applicant and approved by ERA. Additional conditions include hoarding and installation of dust containment measures both on land and at sea.

The permit will allow the commenced works to continue in a manner that takes into account the importance of the site and include the necessary mitigation measures on any residual impacts on the environment.

13 April 2021

Two guidebooks on flora and fauna have been launched to enable citizens and tourists to understand and appreciate the biodiversity at the Majjistral Nature and History Park.

During the presentation of the books by Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development Miriam Dalli and Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia, it was explained how the books will serve as a guide for the flora and fauna that can be found at the park.

To facilitate the use of the books, the flora guidebook is divided according to the colour of the flowers. The fauna guidebook is divided according to the type of creature. Complementing the photographs are descriptions, providing the information that goes hand in hand with what visitors can see at the park.

The educational books also tackle the protection of the ecosystems and geology.

Minister Aaron Farrugia said that Malta, also through the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), is addressing various aspects linked with biodiversity.

“Biodiversity conservation and proper management of our ecosystems is an integral part of our work towards climate change mitigation“, said Minister Farrugia, while explaining that for this reason, and in order to increase awareness on the natural heritage of the park, the ERA sponsored the publication of these books on the flora and fauna found at the Majjistral Park, including a number of unique species found only in the Maltese islands.

He added that various works are also ongoing by Ambjent Malta and other entities to further enhance the biodiversity of the Majjistral Park, an area of significant historical, archaeological and environmental value.

Minister Miriam Dalli described the publication of these books as part of the effort to encourage people – in particular children – to learn more about Malta’s natural habitat.

“We want to encourage children to explore and learn about biodiversity from walks in nature parks“, said Minister Dalli. “Through these publications we want to help educate our children and understand the importance of protecting biodiversity. The flora of the park has adapted to the harsh conditions of scarce soil, lack of water, extreme heat and strong winds.”

She added that the flora gives life to many creatures, which can grow, nest and thrive in this area.

From his end, Majjistral Park Chairperson Sammy Vella said that the park serves as a recreational spot for visitors, an inspiration to artists and a research ground for scientists. This is because it offers material for research on untouched natural ranges. “It is therefore important that everyone remains sensitive to the environment surrounding them, and follow the established paths“, said Mr Vella.

ERA Team Manager Stephen Saliba highlighted that the authority not only supports NGOs in the running of parks through the provision of technical guidance, but also assists through funding for the implementation of educational material for the general public.

The books have been published in both Maltese and English and can be purchased from the Majjistral Park Visitors Centre.

1 April 2021

As part of its commitments towards environment protection, new CCTV cameras as well as structures aimed at reducing physical damage to the environment are being installed in selected Natura 2000 sites and protected areas in Malta.

A new CCTV camera that has been installed in Selmun over the past few days has been vandalised yesterday. The CCTV camera in question, which had just been installed in the vicinity of the Fort Campbell area, is part of a network of CCTV cameras installed by the Environment and Resources Authority and Ambjent Malta in order to increase the vigilance in areas which are protected for their natural importance and beauty.

The Environment and Resources Authority admonishes such acts of vandalism and is currently working closely with the Police to take all the necessary actions to trace the offenders.

ERA would like to appeal to the public to report any information related to this act of vandalism and any other crimes on the environment on 2292 3500.

6 March 2021

The management and enforcement at the l-Għadira s-Safra and l-Iskoll tal-Għallis site will be strengthened, with further provisions related to the regulation of activities within this protected area.

This was announced by Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia, who explained that a new protection notice issued by ERA this week will address the expansion of the protected area effected by ERA and the adjacent Għallis Rocks, enabling ERA to further enforce issues related to activities which have impacted the site, including the dumping of waste material, open fires and barbeques throughout the entire site as well as issues pertaining to the exploitation of species and the introduction of non-native species.

The Minister explained that the whole area supports a Natura 2000 site with unique transitional coastal wetland and maritime coastal communities which support various species of flora and fauna dependent on brackish waters during the wet season.

The Minister reiterated his commitment to protect key habitats and species to ensure their conservation for future generations. “Nature and biodiversity are not just a nice-to-have – they are essential. Essential because the quality of our air and our food, as well as the state of our economy and health, depends on it. To protect this, we need to also provide adequate protection and care to sites of ecological importance,” he said.

The new regulations will thus ensure further protection through the conservation and management of the natural habitats and species within the site and enable the easier implementation of conservation measures in the area.

The protected area is managed by Kaċċaturi San Ubertu (KSU) through a management agreement by ERA, which includes the implementation of various conservation measures, including amongst others restoration of wetland and maritime habitats and species, forestation and awareness actions.

To date, several interventions were carried out by KSU, including daily routine administration of the site, monitoring of biotic and abiotic features, tree-planting, removal of invasive alien species, installation of small temporary fresh-water ponds, as well as daily administration and monitoring amongst others.

Ambjent Malta has also offered its assistance with respect to the removal of invasive alien species and is also assisting KSU and ERA in a project whereby the site could host larger water bodies that could support a variety of water related species, including birds.

N.B. This press release was issued by DOI on behalf of The ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning (MECP)

22 February 2021

An exhibition has been set up at the Malta National Aquarium to raise awareness of local marine habitats and the importance of their collective protection.

This exhibition, titled ‘Malta’s Blue Wonders’ and set up by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), features Malta’s underwater heritage through photography and is open to the general public for free. It features several new habitats and species around the Maltese islands that have been discovered through the LIFE BaĦar Project.

This was announced by Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia who spoke about the importance of the marine environment for our islands and our economy and explained that ERA has designated over 35% of Malta’s waters as Marine Protected Areas which have also been added to the European network of Natura 2000 sites.

“Malta’s dependency on sea activities remains comparatively high compared to other member states due to the island’s small land area, which therefore needs to be exploited as much as possible to generate wealth and employment for the benefit of all citizens. The blue economy sector contributes approximately 15% to Malta’s overall economy and generates over 27,000 jobs”.

The minister explained that it is vital to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental preservation, also because the two are intrinsically linked. He said that our country relies in part on the blue economy which allows us to develop our resources and run important industries and sectors such as transport, tourism, and fishing, while also preserving our intangible resources such as traditional ways of life and our coastal resilience.

“The protection of the marine environment is one of the main functions of the Environment and Resources Authority. This exhibition is intended to expand the knowledge on the need of protecting the marine environment and the importance of the involvement of every one of us in this process,” ERA CEO Michelle Piccinino said.

The public is encouraged to visit this free exhibition at the Malta National Aquarium to experience and appreciate the magnificence of our marine surroundings. This exhibition is open daily from February 18 to May 16 between 10 am to 6 pm all week long and no bookings are required.

N.B. This press release was issued by DOI on behalf of The ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning (MECP)

18 February 2021