The Authority would like to clarify that the temporary relocation of the tuna fish farm cages to a site off Mellieħa was screened for both an Environment Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. The site chosen for the temporary relocation was based on a selection exercise carried out by scientific experts.

In relation to permit conditions, relevant conditions to safeguard the environment including monitoring will be included in the ERA authorisation.  In addition, a number of conditions are imposed by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture on the operations of the fish farm and related tonnage.

 

 

During the day the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) was in receipt of a report that the water in the Tas-Sukkursu canal had a reddish colour.

The Authority has immediately taken action to identify the source and is currently investigating the case together with the assistance of the Environment Health Department. The Department of Biology of the University of Malta was also involved to assist.

​​ERA and IUCN discuss the Future of Marine Protected Areas with the European Commission and other stakeholders

ERA, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) European Regional Office, organised a workshop, which brought together the European Commission, representatives of European Member States, and other foreign and national organisations, marine specialists and stakeholders, to discuss the protection of European seas and oceans and to share first hand experiences of the opportunities and challenges of protecting Europe’s marine environment. It was clear that amongst the main aspects to feature in future discussions related to the marine environment are invasive alien species, stakeholder involvement, fisheries and financing.

During the workshop entitled “Marine Protected Areas: Initiatives and Opportunities” the successes and challenges of managing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) were explored, through European examples from Malta, Sweden, Spain and EU Overseas Countries and Territories and Outermost Regions.

The need to move beyond the designation of MPAs, which although important is only the first step towards protecting Europe’s seas, was discussed, and the need for adequate management so as to sustainably protect our seas was emphasised. Pollution and invasive alien species were highlighted amongst important issues negatively affecting the state of the marine environment; such issues, and others, need to be addressed in order to improve conservation status of habitats and species, and the state of the marine environment overall.

Enhancing MPA management centred around the importance of including and involving all stakeholders in marine protection and management, was also debated. The future of Europe’s seas concerns all actors, particularly local and small-scale fishers, who have a role to play to ensure the successful conservation of Europe’s seas and oceans.

“Protecting our oceans is the business of all of us. Local, national, regional and global coordinated efforts of all actors are needed: working together is a must,” said Luc Bas, Director, IUCN European Regional Office.

The results from this meeting aim to feed into upcoming discussions surrounding the topic of marine protection, including Our Ocean Conference to be held in Malta in October 2017.

It is pertinent to note that efforts to protect the marine environment around Malta are currently being made in line with the requirements of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 (under the United Nations Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020) and Resolution 50 from the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016. As also explained at the opening of the workshop by Prof. Victor Axiak, ERA Chairman, Malta has committed a major increase in the cover of marine protected areas in 2016 – with an additional 3,450 km2 chosen to form part of the European Union’s Natura 2000 network. Their selection was based on the results of two EU LIFE+ projects – LIFE+ MIGRATE focusing on dolphins and turtles, and LIFE+ Malta Seabirds Project focusing on seabirds.

Together with another 5 marine sites that had been previously designated (based primarily on the presence of Posidonia beds), marine designated sites now cover 30% of Maltese waters – equivalent to 11 times the size of the Maltese Islands. Further to this, an ongoing project, LIFE BaĦAR for N2K, addresses selected marine habitats, aimed at extending or identifying new marine Natura 2000 sites. Furthermore, public consultations have taken place in relation to the setting up of the programme of measures related to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and in relation to the management of marine protected areas. The latter is being complemented with meetings with relevant stakeholders, with the aim to discuss the setting of relevant management measures for the designated MPAs.

For further information, please contact us on:
T: + 356 2292 3500

Moving towards resource efficiency through improved landfill management

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is participating in an Interreg Europe project bearing the name COCOON – Consortium for a Coherent European Landfill Management Strategy. As part of this project participating countries will exchange best practices on landfill waste management issues and create a handbook of guidelines to showcase the outputs of this project.

This project, which will run till 2022, has a total budget of €14M with around €176,000 going to the Maltese partners, ERA and Wasteserv Malta Ltd at a co-financing rate of 85%.

ERA will be holding its second stakeholder meeting a number of key local stakeholders on landfill management. The meeting, schedule for this week, will serve as a forum for stakeholders to share their views and expertise and hone in on common efforts that may be applied international to improve landfill management policies.

During this meeting, discussions will also result in the mapping and prioritization of landfills that are being considered by this project, including the Għallis Landfill. Landfills making this list will be considered a priority for further management and funding within Europe.

The COCOON project will contribute to an increase in local knowledge of landfill mining and rehabilitation, and are being seen as a possible means of improving the situation in Malta where the limited space makes landfilling a major challenge in the Maltese islands.

The views gathered through these meetings will be shared during the next Interregional Exchange of Experience meeting among the eight COCOON partners from Malta, Andalucia (Spain), Bradenburg (Germany), Cyprus, Flanders (Belgium), and the Netherlands. This international meeting will be held in Malta between 31st May and 2nd June.

On Sunday 21st May, the Environment & Resources Authority (ERA), BirdLife Malta and il-Majjistral Park will be joining the rest of the EU in celebrating the European Natura 2000 Day.

Celebrations will be held at BirdLife’s Għadira and Simar Nature Reserves (10.00 to 16.00) and il-Majjistral Nature & History Park (10.00 to 12.30) and the public is invited to join these free events.  ERA will be having information stands at both the Għadira Nature Reserve and il-Majjistral Park’s Visitor Centre. Il-Majjistral Park will be holding a seminar titled ‘Discover Natura 2000’ for which booking is required by sending an email to [email protected].

An EU-wide initiative is also currently ongoing inviting the public to upload their picture and make a gesture for our protected areas and take it back to nature! Visit natura2000day.eu/en to learn more.

The EU has been supporting the conservation of our unique and precious natural heritage for 25 years. To mark this 25th Anniversary of the EU’s Habitats Directive and LIFE Programme, 21st May has been officially declared as “European Natura 2000 Day” at an event in Brussels earlier this week.  Natura 2000 is an EU-wide network of nature conservation areas, established to ensure the survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened terrestrial and marine species and habitats for present and future generations.

Malta has, throughout the years, proposed various sites to form part of the Natura 2000 network. To date Malta has 34 terrestrial Natura 2000 sites which together cover over 13% of the total land area of the Maltese Islands and 14 marine Natura 2000 sites.

ERA is also currently leading an EU co-financed project, LIFE BaĦAR for N2K, together with the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change; the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture; the Department of Biology of the University of Malta; and Fundacion Oceana with the aim of extending marine Natura 2000 sites and designate new ones. This project focuses on three ecologically important marine habitats: reefs, sea caves, and sandbanks, which are some of the habitats providing shelter and feeding grounds for a variety of marine species. More information about this project is available on the Life BaĦAR for N2K facebook page.

For further information, kindly contact [email protected].

With reference to the article which appeared in the Times of Malta of 18th April 2017 titled “Offshore Fishfarm Deadline Missed”, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) would like to clarify that:

  • at no point did the ERA CEO suggest that the deadline for the relocation of the tuna fishfarms is going to be missed;
  • the ERA CEO only referred, by way of explanation, that there are two separate and distinct processes that are underway in relation to aquaculture in the North-east. The first one involves the establishment of a formal North-East aquaculture zone that can accommodate a number of fish-farms and on which a formal public consultation process to formalise the terms of reference for the EIA is on-going. The second relates to an application for fish-farm relocation that was submitted by a company to the Planning Authority and about which ERA has been asked for feedback. ERA will be drawing up its recommendations to the Planning Authority in the coming days.

ERA reiterates that it is fully committed to ensuring, together with the Planning Authority and the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, that the agreement reached last year by all operators is respected.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is celebrating its first anniversary since its inception.

The Authority was set up on the 4th April 2016, as the result of a reform in which the environment was separated from the planning sector, with the aim that this sector is afforded greater importance. This led to ERA being assigned the role to regulate the environment and resources as an autonomous authority.

For this occasion, ERA will be planting 180 trees throughout the year, representing each of its employees. The first trees were planted in the Xrobb l-Għaġin Park at Delimara, Marsaxlokk on Tuesday 4th April, exactly on its anniversary.

ERA organized other activities for this occasion, including blood donation by its employees, a clean-up activity at Majjistral Park which is part of the Natura 2000 area, and removal of invasive alien species from the same place.

Throughout its first year, the Authority actively contributed in the safeguarding of the environment. Its main responsibilities that were carried out throughout its first year included the setting up of 30 Management Plans and Conservation Orders for Natura 2000 Terrestrial Sites, participation in projects financed by the European Union on various topics such as nature, waste and sea, and protection of sites for specific aims, such as in the cases of the turtle nest and the Azure Window. This year, ERA also carried out various analyses of industrial and development activities to reduce the possible negative impact on the environment.

ERA also developed laws and environmental regulations on both the national and international levels so as to protect better the natural environment of the Maltese Islands.

The number of employees within ERA has continued to flourish throughout the year, with plans for further increases, in order to ameliorate all the functions expected of the Authority. ERA looks forward to continue to be of service to the public and the environment.

Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change Josè Herrera attends a tree planting event sponsored by ERA to mark the 1st year from when ERA was founded

 

Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change Josè Herrera attends a tree planting event sponsored by ERA to mark the 1st year from when ERA was founded

ERA put forward its opinion that no development and works should be allowed to take place within the area earmarked for a development proposal of 6 apartments, parking and pool in Żebbuġ (Gozo).

Should the development still be given the green light by the Planning Authority, ERA may not be in a position to grant the nature and tree permits that are legally required to accommodate the proposed interventions.

ERA’s objection to the proposed development was provided to the Planning Authority on 23rd March 2017, in its capacity as an external consultee and an interested party.

In its position, ERA put forward its concerns about the strong visual impact and the significant degradation that the proposed development is envisaged to have on the environmentally sensitive site. The interventions being proposed would degrade the environment through the loss of natural habitat from extensive construction.

In addition, ERA envisages that the proposal would adversely impact the valley system and its overall rural character, and would require the uprooting of existing trees and other vegetation typically found on such cliff sides.

 

 

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), as part of its commitment to set up inventories of important trees and woodlands in Malta, has designated 30 additional Tree Protection Areas (TPAs) to protect and conserve important sites that harbour rare and endangered trees. In Malta there are approximately 60 native tree species of which 66% are rare or endangered. Through the declaration of these TPAs, these trees and woodlands are being given the well-deserved protection for our and future generations. The total number of TPAs over Malta, Gozo and Comino is now 60.

23 of these TPAs are in Malta and 7 are in Gozo. Some of the areas protect individual trees and groups of trees of value, such as the old olive trees in Ħal Lija, as well as other areas to ensure the protection of rare and threatened trees which have a restricted native distribution in Malta, such as the dwarf fan palm at Tal-Merħla and the mock privet at Ta’ Xuxa in the Buskett area. Species which are not native, but have other relevant important considerations are also included, such as the ficus tree, which is a landmark in the area known as ‘It-Tliet Siġriet’ in Tas-Sliema. Trees within a TPA are protected from activities and operations that may have an adverse impact on them, such as development.​

Trees are one of the most important components of biological diversity in the natural, rural and urban environments. They not only have an intrinsic value for society but are also of scientific, historical and educational value. They’re crucial in creating a purer air system, since together with other plants they convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. Trees also provide us with essential life supporting services which are often taken for granted, such as natural climate regulation, soil stabilisation and storm water control. Trees can also serve as a safe haven for birds, as well as shelter populations of insects and other animals. In the urban environment, trees offer shade and shelter, whilst increasing the aesthetic value of built-up areas and contribute to the character of a village or town, especially in the case of ancient trees.

For further information contact ERA on [email protected] or on 2292 3500.

In an effort to raise awareness on energy saving and the need for action on climate change, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) will be joining millions of people, businesses, and landmarks around the globe by participating in Earth Hour. This event is an annual worldwide initiative, this year being held on Saturday 25th March from 8.30 to 9.30 p.m.

To support this symbolic commitment to reduce energy consumption, ERA has today switched off its office lights for an hour and encouraged its staff to make use of stairs instead of lifts throughout the day. ERA will also be joining the rest of the world tomorrow by keeping the lights out between 8.30 and 9.30 p.m.

Individuals, households and businesses are encouraged to unite in this good cause and turn off their non-essential lights for one hour.