The Environment & Resources Authority (ERA) together with No To Plastic Malta, Emergency Response & Rescue Corps (ERRC) and Raniero’s Adventures organised an underwater clean-up dive at Qammieħ Reef, during which at least four deep water fishing nets were recovered. These nets were found lying at depths ranging from 30 to 55 metres deep. The nets were collected by Wasteserv, who will clean them together with #ŻIBEL, so that the nets can be potentially recycled overseas.

Qammieħ Reef, situated between Ċirkewwa and the Red Tower, provides a popular fishing spot. Unfortunately, many Ghost fishing nets get entangled on the reef and are subsequently discarded. These nets can indiscriminately kill large quantities of marine life, besides also being a source of marine pollution.

The amount of litter present in Malta’s marine waters is of growing concern for the Environment and Resources Authority. Perit Michelle Piccinino said that the Authority looks forward to supporting such clean-up initiatives, as these compliment policies that ERA develops in this regard. Such initiatives contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Programme of Measures reported by Malta as part of the requirements of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. This programme seeks the achievement of Good Environmental Status in relation to litter in the marine environment through, amongst others, the removal of accumulated litter. The importance of clean-ups has also been recognised by UNEP/MAP’s Regional Plan for the Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean, which calls on Contracting Parties, including Malta, to remove existing accumulated litter in a regular manner, particularly, litter impacting endangered species.

ERA would like to thank the Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change for their support throughout, and the participating dive centres including: Strand Diving, Octopus Garden Dive Centre, Scubatech and Maltaqua. Special thanks goes to the 14 divers who took part in this clean-up, with another 4 people assisting from the deck.

For further information kindly contact [email protected]

ERA will be commissioning a study on the dioxin and furan levels in the soil, following the incident at Magħtab this morning. These persistent organic pollutants will be tested for because they are usually present when plastic burns at a low temperature.

International experts will be engaged by ERA to sample and analyse the soil from different locations affected by the fallout from the plume.

ERA officers will try to inspect the site once it is safe to do so. Furthermore, ERA will be issuing additional information in the coming days when the analyses and investigations have been concluded.

Hatchlings pleasantly surprised those at the bay when they emerged from their marked nest during the night after a successful period of incubation and despite the wet weather which threatened the viability of the eggs in this nest. Nature Trust – FEE Malta (NTM) and volunteers who were present immediately informed the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) of the event taking place and took action on the ground to see the hatchlings safely to the water’s edge.

Hatchlings are naturally attracted to moon light shining on the sea surface and their first response, upon emerging from the eggs, is to swim towards light. In view of this, ERA kickstarted its planned response to reduce disturbance from artificial light or any physical barriers at the bay so as to ensure that the hatchlings’ first journey is a successful one.

ERA would like to thank the NTM, the Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change, all volunteers who contributed their time to achieve the protection of this species and the strengthening of the marine biodiversity in Malta. ERA also thanks all other entities that cooperated in this event.

For further information kindly contact [email protected]

ERA has worked incessantly with the Civil Protection Department (CPD) on the fires that engulfed Il-Maqluba, which is both a Tree Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation of International Importance.

ERA enforcement officers inspected the site a number of times, while CPD officers continued to fight the flames, even in the most inaccessible areas of this karstic depression that continued smouldering. Initial indications show that some protected trees were scorched, but sources familiar with the area informed that clumps of giant reed, which are an invasive species, probably bore the brunt of the flames. However, a more accurate assessment of damages can only be made once the fires are extinguished completely.

In the meantime, ERA enforcement officers have also been in contact both with the CPD and with the Police to conclusively determine the exact cause of the flames, and to ascertain the location that the fireworks had been let off from. ERA enforcement continues to offer its assistance to the Police in their investigations.

A necropsy on a dead leatherback turtle which was brought to the Ċirkewwa quay by the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) yesterday, Wednesday 15th August, found that the turtle died from pneumonia that developed into a generalised inflammation. However it was also noted that the animal had been severely weakened by ingestion of plastic material which was found in the intestines. The cause of death was issued by Dr Anthony Gruppetta, veterinary, who performed the necropsy on behalf of Nature Trust Malta. The animal had been found entangled in drift nets, which also left their toll on the animal.

A leatherback turtle was first noticed at about noon yesterday, between Ras il-Qala and Taħt it-Trunċiera, along the coast close to the Qala quarries, entangled in nets. Subsequently, AFM informed ERA of a report of a huge turtle at sea between Qala and Comino. AFM were asked to land this turtle at Ċirkewwa, and ERA officials proceeded on scene to co-ordinate efforts.

Upon arrival it was discovered that the turtle in question was a juvenile leatherback female turtle 1.85m long, which was dead. This leatherback had a carapace length of about 1.20m by 0.97m (carapace width), and was nearly 1.85 m long from head to tail, with a weight of 190 Kgs.

The Civil Protection Department provided assistance to lift the dead specimen from the boat to the quay. The turtle was then transported and a necroscopy carried out to establish the cause of death. ERA also invited the University of Malta to take samples for research purposes.

This species, Dermochelys coriacae, (Fekruna sewda) is not commonly encountered in the Mediterranean and in Maltese waters and though the last stranding dated July 2015, most of the confirmed sightings of this species around the Maltese date some decades back. The turtles commonly found in Maltese seas are in fact loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta).

The leatherbacks that come to the Mediterranean are most probably from the Atlantic sub-population. Leatherback turtles are highly migratory species, crossing the Atlantic Ocean and occasionally entering the Mediterranean Sea. Leatherback turtles, along with all the marine turtles, were protected in Malta since 1992 through legislation which at the time reflected the obligations of the Barcelona Convention. This species is also protected under CITES, the Bern & Bonn Conventions and under the Habitats Directive. In the latter it is classified as “Animals of Community Interest in need of Strict Protection”.

Although their distribution is wide, numbers have seriously declined globally. The northwest Atlantic populations were the ones that generally swam into the Mediterranean, and their normal nesting areas are actually in the south-eastern USA and the Caribbean Sea.

Leatherbacks are the largest sea turtle species, and among the heaviest modern reptiles globally. They can grow up to a weight of 900 kgs. They do not have a hard ‘outer’ shell, but a carapace that is elongated and covered by skin and oily flesh which has given this turtle its name; leatherback turtle.

This turtle has no claws on the flippers which are more elongated and paddle like than in other sea turtles. The leatherback turtle is also quite special as it has the widest geographical range of any of the sea turtles. It tolerates very cold waters unlike other reptiles, due to adaptations in its circulation, high oil content and enormous body size. These turtles are the only turtles which feed exclusively on jellyfish and jelly like creatures, and hence are very susceptible to plastics in the sea which they mistake for jellyfish. In fact, a similar case of a dead leatherback turtle was recorded in 2015.

ERA would like to thank Nature Trust Malta, the Armed Forces of Malta, the Cleansing Department, Bubbles Dive Centre, the Civil Protection Department, and MTTF for their assistance in this case.

For further information kindly contact [email protected]

ERA issued the following clarification with respect to TOM Article dated Saturday, August 11, 2018 titled “In spite of 57 beach cleaners… tons of seaweed sit at two Gozo beaches- ERA still has to give green light for removal”

Beach cleaning is subject to the “Operating Procedures on Beach Cleaning” which were issued by ERA in 2017 to ensure minimal impact on local beaches during cleaning operations. Consultations on these Procedures were held with all stakeholders throughout the development of this document.

In the instance of Daħlet Qorrot the removal of seaweed can be undertaken without the requirement of a permit from ERA, unless MGOZ determine the need to deviate from the provisions of the said Operating Procedures. In this regard, MGOZ has been informed accordingly.

To note is that the Operating Procedures criteria do not apply to all beaches across the board, as certain beaches are remote or more environmentally sensitive and need to be cleaned with great care and only following the application for a Nature Permit for each beach cleaning operation. San Blas qualifies as a remote and sensitive beach, therefore an environmental permit is required when the beach is cleaned in accordance to a method statement prepared by the applicant and approved by ERA. An application for the removal of seaweed from San Blas was received by ERA, however the Authority is not in a position to continue processing this application in view that the applicant has not yet provided the infomation requested.

Additionally, MGOZ expressed interest in removing the seaweed at Ramla l-Ħamra, however to date, no application has been received.​

 

Following the public call for the post of Director of Compliance and Enforcement, the Board of the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) appointed Lieutenant Colonel Mario Schembri (ret’d) to occupy this post with immediate effect.

Lieutenant Colonel Schembri (ret’d) is specialized in enforcement and security matters. He carried out his academic and career training at local and international civil and military institutions.

In 1979 he began his career in enforcement as a Police Officer and reached the rank of Police Inspector a year later. In 1985 he moved to the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) where during his 27 years of service, he actively took part and led several enforcement operations at sea and on land. During his years at Maritime Squadron he was also actively involved in combatting oil pollution at sea. Amongst other duties represented the AFM before the Courts of Law and in media matters.

He retired from the AFM in 2011 after being awarded the Long and Efficient Service Medal for the sterling service rendered.

As the main environment regulator, ERA protects the environment through various national and international laws and regulations. Bridging the gap between such legislation and practice is the end goal of compliance and enforcement actions, and the main challenge for the new Compliance and Enforcement Directorate.

In his new function, the Director shall be responsible for monitoring aspects that are regulated by ERA, promoting compliance with requirements, and subsequently even resorting to enforcement where this becomes necessary. The remit of the Compliance and Enforcement Directorate spans a number of environmental sectors, such as securing compliance with nature and biodiversity regulations, trade in endangered species and the monitoring of adherence with ERA environmental permits and conditions governing operational activities that have an impact on the environment.

The ERA Board congratulates Lt Col Schembri (ret’d) in his important role within the Authority.​

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) Board has today, 6 July 2018, granted ten (10) environmental permits which will allow ten quarries in the limits of Mqabba, Siġġiewi and Iklin to be authorised to accept inert, construction and demolition waste for disposal purposes. One of these sites has also been permitted to accept clean C&D waste for recycling purposes.

The permits include conditions to ensure that such activities are carried out in accordance to the best environmental practices to achieve the required level of environment protection for the surroundings. These conditions oblige operators to adhere with parameters on the quality of material that may be accepted at these sites, waste acceptance procedures, the control of mud and debris from the site operations, and other operational requirements. These permits also provide for a number of monitoring obligations, which operators are to fulfil throughout the validity of the permits.

All these permits are also subject to a bank guarantee which is aimed to ascertain compliance with environmental obligations.

All documents will be made available online here –once the permit has been validated through the payment of the bank guarantee.​

Reference is made to the article “There’s something in the air” of 13 May 2018, and to a number of statements made on air quality in Malta, specifically on particulate matter (mostly PM10) levels in Malta.  The Environment and Resources Authority confirms that traffic is the main source of anthropogenic (that is ‘man made’) PM10 in the Maltese Islands. However, it is to be clarified that none of the air monitoring stations situated in various locations around the Maltese Islands have, over the past five years, exceeded the environmental quality objectives, or the so called “limit values” mandated by national and European Union legislation.

This does not mean that no action should be taken to curb traffic flows and related emissions, however the Authority considers that statements on “dangerous levels of PM10 pollution” are considered to be misleading.  By way of clarification, PM10 levels at Msida station (which is a traffic site) are normally hovering below the limit.  The situation is not helped by the fact that Saharan dust and sea salt aerosols contribute significantly to these levels and health implications cannot be excluded for either the man-made or the natural components.

In addition, the Authority wishes to clarify that Malta’s uniqueness amongst European Member States plays a significant role and should be taken into account when interpreting statistics in reports comparing European member states amongst each other. In size and population density, Malta compares more to a major city within Europe than to a whole European state with expanses of open spaces.  In addition, being a small island with significant exposure to sea spray, our geographical location in close proximity to North Africa and in particular to the Sahara need also to be taken into consideration. These unique circumstances are not accounted for in reports such as that published by the European Environment Agency, making Malta appear to perform ‘worse’ than other countries which do not suffer from similar geographical specificities and climatic conditions.

Apart from the real time data which is already available from each monitoring station on its website, the Authority is in the process of finalising an ‘air quality index’, which will provide the general public with information on air quality levels in Malta. This information will be provided for every station and pollutant, including that of particulate matter, which might be of a health concern if present at high levels.​

Following the reports in media regarding the release of construction material into the sea at Balluta Bay from a construction site, ERA immediately stopped all activities on site until the developer installs adequate preventive measures. These measures started being installed during the night under the supervision of ERA officers, whereby further works will be implemented throughout the day.

ERA will keep on monitoring the works until it is ascertained that all precautionary measures are undertaken. ERA will also be taking action against the developer for breaching environmental law.