Profs Victor Axiak, Profs Alfred Vella, and Ms Mary Gaerty have been awaded this year’s prestigious Buonamico Award.

The Buonamico Award is a yearly award-giving ceremony held under the patronage of H.E. President of Malta which distinguishes individuals whose actions and achievements benefited our biodiversity and the environment.

This prestigious award has been inspired Malta’s first naturalist, Giovanni Francesco Buonamico, who had recognized the importance of our natural environment in the 17th century. His varied intellectual interests resulted in the writing of at least four important manuscripts on natural history including the first flora of the Maltese Islands, the so-called “Brevis Notitia” manuscripts which acted as the basis for today’s modern reference books.

Buonamico’s role was pivotal for an environmental regulator’s perspective, with scientific evidence based work as the basis of all decision taking measures, to assure correct implementation to safeguard the Environment from a legislative perspective.

This year, 3 distinguished members of the public have been chosen for their direct impacts on our natural environment and biodiversity.

Professor Victor Axiak has been a Professor in Biology at the University of Malta for almost four decades, where he has held various administrative posts including Head of Department, Dean of Science, and then Deputy Dean of Science.

During this time, he was actively involved in environmental matters and conducted research in marine pollution and the application of a wide range of ecotoxicological tools to evaluate local marine quality, ranging from molecular biomarkers to satellite remote sensing. Such research included the first use of imposex as a biomonitoring tool for antifouling agents in the Mediterranean, and the first surveys of microplastics in local sandy beaches. During the 1980s he coordinated the first monitoring and research of jellyfish blooms both locally and in the Mediterranean. He has lectured on environmental matters in several foreign universities including that of Dalhousie (Halifax, Canada) and of Barcelona and lectured in international postgraduate courses on environment in the Mediterranean.

He has been a member of various national bodies on environment and sustainable development. He was a Board member of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, and subsequently of the Planning Authority. Since its inception in 2016, he had chaired the Environment and Resources Authority until January 2023. During the early 2000s he was instrumental in the setting up of the Interdiocesan Environment Commission of the Church in Malta where he acted as chairperson for 10 years until 2013. For several years, he acted as an environmental consultant to various local and international agencies, departments and private companies. He has published and/or co-edited numerous books various scientific papers and reports.

Profs. Alfred J. Vella served as Head of Chemistry, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Pro-Rector for Academic Affairs and Rector of the University of Malta. For over 30 years, Vella’s outreach commitments extended beyond University walls serving; the Magistrates Court as forensic expert in judicial inquiries on fires, explosion and chemical accidents; consultancy services to state and non-state entities including acting as environmental advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Dr George Vella as vice-chair of the Consultative and Advisory Board for the Environment (CABE) (1996-1998). Vella was a Board member of the Planning Authority, the board of governors of the Malta Council for Science and Technology and Heritage Malta and most recently was an ERA board member for 7 years until February 2023.

Over a period of over 50 years, Professor Vella has effectively contributed to the environment through his work, both as a researcher and as a trainer. He has trained hundreds of students, many of whom today work in the environmental field, including scientists, University academics, in regulatory agencies, manufacturing industries and teachers of science in schools and colleges. Vella’s research on the quality of Malta’s environmental resources include years of work on the contamination of coastal seawater, marine biota and sediments by tributyltin then used in ship antifouling paint: this contaminant was shown to be pervasive and even present in settled outdoor and indoor dust.

Professor Vella was instrumental in pushing into national focus awareness and discussion of issues like nitrates in tap and bottled water; black dust deposition; benzene in air; particulate dust pollution from the construction and ship repair industries and widespread and persistent pollution by toxic metals and perchlorate from fireworks.

Mary Gaerty is the co-founder and chairperson of Green Skip Services Ltd, a waste management and consultancy company. Understanding the potential long-term environmental impacts of waste management in the context of the limited knowhow available in Malta at the time, she opted to prioritise education and training. She took the initiative to take the discussion to the relative authorities, raising awareness and highlighting the importance of personal safety for staff, for proper packaging and for safe disposal subsequently successfully obtaining certification in numerous other areas of waste management, including packaging, export, categorisation and safety.

Mary Gaerty focused on education which was at the forefront of her efforts from the outset, including through school visits aimed at communicating to children the importance of environmental protection and of reusing, reducing and recycling, at a time when these notions were still years away from being incorporated into the national curriculum, mentoring numerous students working on their theses in areas related to her competence. Ms Gaerty remained active in this area and beyond becoming a Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management in 2016, President of the National Council of Women (NCW) chairing the Council’s Environment Committee, leading entrepreneurship projects, lobbying for more opportunities for women to enter the labour market, and raising awareness on domestic violence and human trafficking, amongst other issues.

Throughout her career, she has been involved in numerous consultation meetings dealing with the environment, particularly in the waste management sector, including issues linked with recycling options and circular economy.

The Scout Association of Malta and the Malta Girl Guides where also honoured and awarded the Buonamico Special Recognition Award for their sterling work in the envirnomental domain.

Both the President of Malta, His Excellency Dr George Vella, and ERA’s Chairman, Perit Dr Vincent Cassar, congratulated the winners and their families, whilst thanking them for their priceless efforts towards the environment and for bravely spearheading initiatives that started to bring about societal change within Malta and amongst the Maltese.

4 November 2023

The Environment and Resources Authority welcomes the decision taken today by the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT) confirming a decision taken by ERA in 2019, when it designated Tal-Wej as a Special Area of Conservation of both National and International Importance.

 

Covering an area of 203,484 m2, within the limits of Mosta and Naxxar, the ERA had designated the Tal-Wej as a Natura 2000 protected site. A number of landowners had objected to the decision. Today, the Tribunal confirmed the importance of protecting the site in its entirety, as part of the European Natura 2000 ecological network.

 

The Tal-Wej is characterised by temporary freshwater rockpools that form in outcrops of the Lower Coralline Limestone.  These freshwater rockpool habitats are locally scarce due to their temporary nature, small size and limited distribution.  They host flora such as the Maltese Waterwort (Elatine gussonei), the Maltese Horned Pondweed (Zannichellia melitensis) and fauna such as the Tadpole Shrimp (Triops cancriformis) and the Painted Frog (Discoglossus pictus).  Additionally, the area also hosts garrigue and grassland habitats.

 

The area is also listed as a Class A archaeological site, forming part of a wider cultural landscape that includes cart-ruts, dolmens, ancient quarries, rock-cut tombs, corbelled huts and a 16th century chapel dedicated to Santa Margherita.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) hosted the plenary meeting for the National Focal Points (NFP) on the European Environmental Information and Observation Network (Eionet), bringing together officials from the European Environment Agency (EEA), representatives across the EEA members and cooperating countries as well as the European Topic Centres.

The joint task to give EU policy makers and the public, the best available knowledge to reach the targets on environment and sustainability. Eionet also serves as a collaborative network, connecting the EEA, its member countries, and various stakeholders to provide high-quality data.

During the two-day plenary meeting, which was held between the 10th and 11th October, attendees discussed and reflected on potential ways to enhance country level engagement between national stakeholders, to increase the uptake of environmental information and data across Europe. Malta actively participated during the meeting, delivering a presentation on best practices in Malta. Ms Elaine Cutajar, the National Focal Point for Malta on Eionet highlighted that “Such meetings are valuable to members of the network as they allow for effective discussions between countries, and create a space which welcomes ideas and solutions on the use and dissemination of environmental information. They also serve as a platform for countries to showcase their work strengthening the transfer of knowledge.”

Malta also hosted the EEA officials for a country visit with the national experts forming part of the Eionet network on the 12th October.

The EEA promoted the added value of engagement and cooperation with the various experts nominated on the network. It also acknowledged that Malta has increased its efforts in strengthening its participation and contribution to the network as well as align its practices with the EEA-Eionet Strategy 2021-2030. The EEA expressed its appreciation to Malta for its sterling work on the Eionet network throughout the past year which involved providing support to the EEA for preparing and coordinating the NFP Plenary Meetings and NFP’s feedback to the EEA as well as chairing the pre-meetings for NFPs.

For more information, visit www.era.org.mt

13  October 2023

 

 

From Sunday 15th October, individuals and businesses caught depositing waste in the wrong waste bags will be liable to fines of up to €150, as the six-month educational period on the new mandatory waste separation regulations ends this week.

In the coming weeks, ERA officials and other enforcement officers will be continuing inspections across Malta and Gozo, to ensure that households and businesses are separating waste properly in the three waste bags specified by law – the white bag for organic waste, the grey or green bag for recyclable waste and the black bag strictly for other waste.

Enforcement officers are authorized by law to check bags taken out for collection by households and businesses, and to issue warnings and fines when waste items are found in the wrong bag:

1st offence 2nd offence 3rd offence
Households Official Warning €25 €50
Businesses Official Warning €75 €150

From July 2024 transparent black bags will become mandatory instead of the current black bags for municipal waste collection, making it easier for enforcement officials to check the content of bags without opening them.

Meanwhile, separate fines of €150 continue to apply for persons taking out waste bags on the wrong day. In January, regional councils launched a new municipal waste collection schedule for all localities. Organic waste bags are collected on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while black bags are collected on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Grey or green bags for recyclable materials are collected every Thursday. Glass is collected on the first and third Friday of the month.

Mandatory waste separation regulations were introduced in Malta last April, as ERA launched a six-month educational campaign to help the public gradually adapt to this new waste management system.  During the last six months, ERA enforcement officers conducted more than 2600 inspections in different localities to ascertain compliance with national waste schedule and educate on waste separation.

ERA encourages everyone to properly separate waste, to contribute to a more sustainable future and avoid the consequences of non-compliance. By properly separating waste, households, businesses, government entities and other organisations can help increase the sustainable management of waste, to be recycled or processed to generate clean energy, while reducing the negative impacts of landfilling on the environment.

Through the Long-Term Waste Management Plan 2021-2030, Malta is working to reduce landfilling to 10% of total municipal waste by 2035.

For more information, visit wastecollection.mt, the online waste separation and collection guide available in ten different languages.

12 October 2023

Two juvenile turtles called Nadia and Maria have been released back into the wild earlier this morning after almost 2 months of treatment at the Wildlife Rehab Centre project.

The Wildlife Rehab Centre Project is operated by Nature Trust Malta – FEE, with the financial support of the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), which sponsors the rehabilitation of injured wildlife. ERA also works closely with the eNGO on several other environmental initiatives.

The turtle named Nadia was rescued on the 4th August 2023 when she was found floating on the surface with a hook in its mouth, while the turtle named Maria was rescued on 20th August 2023 after ingesting lots of plastics – she also had several old scars from past injuries.

NTM President CEO Vince Attard once again appealed to the public to keep beaches clean and plastic free. Attard said that

“Plastic pollution is on the increase and is badly effecting us and marine life. Disposing of Waste in the appropriate bins even on land is of utmost importance and crucial to reduce plastic waste at sea.”

ERA CEO, Kevin Mercieca, said that the Authority is developing policies intended to reduce as much plastic waste as possible through updated legislation – namely the ban on the importation and sale of SUPs on the local market and a number of other measures covered under the Single Use Plastic Strategy for Malta 2020-2030.

“This also goes hand in hand with other waste related initiatives intended to reduce waste in general, such as the mandatory waste separation regulations introduced in April.  All these policy initiatives help reduce the amounts of waste plastic ending up in the sea putting the life of marine biodiversity at risk”.

Fines for incorrect Waste separation come into force on the 15th of October 2023.

For more information, visit era.org.mt and naturetrustmalta.org

10 October 2023

ERA Board also requests improvements on St Julian’s waterpolo facilities

 

The ERA Board approved the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) on the second Malta-Italy electricity interconnector project and requested further improvements on a separate project to redevelop the site of the St Julian’s waterpolo facilities, to reduce its environmental impacts.

The two decisions were taken during the Board’s public meeting on Friday morning.

The ERA board approved the Final Assessment on the EIA carried out to determine the environmental impacts of the planning development application submitted to the Planning Authority (PA 04448/22 – EA 00018/21) for the Construction of the second cable link inter-connector project. This proposal includes trenching, laying, cable jointing and installation works between the Enemalta Magħtab Terminal Station and the near shore approach, the construction of underground joint bays, a trench-less transition from onshore to offshore and the laying and protection of the submarine cable up to the median line between Magħtab, Naxxar Malta and Ragusa, Sicily.

The ERA Board noted that this project is of national importance and does not pose a significant impact on the environment if the works are carried out according to the submitted plans and conditions. The EIA also took note of all the necessary mitigation measures that will need to be applied to reduce any adverse environmental impacts, which, in any case, are expected to have an overall insignificant impact on the area.

During the same sitting, the ERA Board also reviewed the Final Assessment on the EIA that the Authority requested in relation to the Planning Authority development application (PA 03927/19 – EA 00009/20) for the proposed alterations and construction of a water polo and swimming pool, deck area, changing rooms, toilets, showers, committee meeting room and ancillary facilities in the site of the existing St Julian’s waterpolo facilities.

After assessing the proposal and considering the consultants’ evaluation, the ERA Board determined that for the Authority’s review to proceed further, the applicants need to reduce the visual impact of the project further, and to decrease the encroachment on the seabed areas supporting the Posidonia meadows.

Further details on the two EIAs reviewed on Friday is available on ERA’s website: https://era.org.mt/era-project/ea_00018_21/ and https://era.org.mt/era-project/pa03927-19/

28 August 2023

17 loggerhead turtles hatched from the nesting site at Gnejna, out of a total of 18 fertilised eggs, an overwhelming success rate with only one fertilised egg unhatched.

Two days after the first hatchings were noticed, the nest was inspected by a qualified vet. A total of 48 eggs were found, 30 of which were unfertilised.

This is the second turtle nesting site of this season, after another 32 turtles hatched from another nest at Ramla l-Hamra, in Gozo last week. The two nesting sites were identified when Nature Trust Malta (NTM-FEE) volunteers observed turtle crawls in the sand during routine early morning patrols. ERA immediately issued emergency conservation orders limiting certain activities at the two areas, to protect the nests.

ERA would like to thank NTM-FEE and the volunteers engaged in this environmental work, for their commitment to the conservation of protected species in Malta and Gozo. This work is possible through the ongoing collaboration between ERA and this eNGO. ERA funds the organisation’s Wildlife Rescue Team and other efforts to rehabilitate injured or stranded protected species. Many volunteers dedicate long hours to support these invaluable actions.

ERA also thanks the public for their support and cooperation. The authority encourages everyone to immediately report any observations of wildlife in distress to NTM-FEE on 9999 9505 or ERA on 22923500 or through its customer care system.

For further information, visit era.org.mt.

 

Note on the species:

 The loggerhead turtle (Maltese: il-fekruna l-komuni), scientifically known as Caretta caretta is a long-living, slowly maturing marine species that inhabits tropical to warm temperate areas.

 This species is classified as globally endangered by the World Conservation Area (IUCN) and is also protected by various national and international legislation. Capturing, killing, taking, and trading these turtles, as well as the deliberate disturbance of these species, particularly during the period of breeding, rearing and migration, is prohibited and subject to legal action.

The destruction of eggs or the taking of eggs from the wild is strictly prohibited and constitutes a criminal offence.  The national ‘Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations’ impose a minimum fine of nearly €500 and going up to nearly €2400 for each egg that may be destroyed or taken from the wild.

Gnejna Bay and Ramla l-Hamra, where loggerhead turtles successfully laid eggs this summer, are among several protected coastal areas under the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549). They are also listed as Natura 2000 sites through the EU Habitats Directive.

17th August 2023

32 loggerhead turtles have hatched from the turtle nest in Ramla l-Ħamra, Gozo, with a success rate of 80%.

As per applicable procedure, 48 hours after the first hatchings were noticed last weekend, Nature Trust Malta volunteers and ERA officials dug out the nest under the surveillance of a qualified vet. The vet confirmed that out of the 88 turtle eggs laid on 18th June, 32 hatched successfully. Out of the 88 eggs, 48 where not fertilized and 8 did not hatch successfully.

The turtle nest was first observed on 18th June, when volunteers identified signs of a turtle crawl during a morning patrol indicating a potential new turtle nest. Nature Trust and ERA confirmed the presence of a nesting chamber and measures were immediately taken to protect the area. Earlier this month, as strong winds hit the area, volunteers built large sandbag walls around the nest, to protect it.

2 turtle nests have been reported in Maltese beaches this summer with the second nest being reported in Gnejna on 25 June. Last year, only 1 turtle nest was recorded at Ramla l-Ħamra but the nest was unsuccessful due to several factors, including inclement weather conditions.

The loggerhead turtle (Maltese: il-fekruna l-komuni), scientifically known as Caretta caretta, is a long-living, slowly maturing marine species that inhabits tropical to warm temperate areas. This species is classified as globally endangered by the World Conservation Area (IUCN) and is also protected by various national and international legislation. Capturing, killing, taking, and trading these turtles (including its hatchlings), as well as the deliberate disturbance of these species, particularly during the period of breeding, rearing and migration, is prohibited and subject to legal action.

ERA works with Nature Trust Malta and other organisations to ensure the protection of turtles and other marine life in Maltese waters. Since its establishment, ERA has been funding Nature Trust Malta to assure the adequate interventions for the rescue and care of injured wildlife.

The public can report injured wildlife by calling NTM-FEE Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Unit on on +356 9999 9505 or ERA on 22923500. For more information, follow ERA and the Wildlife Rescue Team Malta on Facebook and Instagram.

14th August 2023

Credit: ERA/Mark Zammit Cordina

Credit: ERA/Mark Zammit Cordina

Credit: ERA/Mark Zammit Cordina

A Government bill to strengthen the Environment Protection Act, introducing increased participation by the public and eNGOs and more transparency and efficiency in environmental decisions, was approved by Parliament.

Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli, who presented the bill in May, expressed her determination to ensure that these amendments are effectively implemented in the coming months. “These amendments are strengthening the Environment and Resources Authority, as we make another step forward in the collective effort for a more sustainable environment in Malta and Gozo.”

“These amendments are consolidating the Environment and Resources Authority’s environment protection decisions and actions. We are giving everyone, including eNGOs, an opportunity to participate in the Authority’s environmental decisions, while ensuring that persons affected by these decisions have better access to justice. We want everyone to contribute to a better environment, not only through one’s actions and choices at home, at school and at work, but also by actively contributing to important environmental decisions. Ultimately, we must all do our part to protect our environment,” the Minister said.

Through the approved amendments, more ERA Board meetings will be open to the public, in addition to meetings on Environment Impact Assessments and Industrial Emissions Directive permits. The new legislation will allow for public and eNGO participation in other ERA Board decisions. This will increase transparency and accountability in these decisions.

The Government bill will also empower ERA to issue emergency orders whereby it will be able to take direct action to remediate irregularities causing imminent threats to the environment, without waiting 15 days before invoking such direct action, as specified by current legislation.

The amendments to the Environment Protection Act will also introduce an Environment Commission led by a member of the ERA Board and including the participation of a representative of local environmental NGOs. The ERA Board will have the power to delegate some of its decisions to the Commission, to increase its efficiency and facilitate quicker decisions on certain applications, such as petitions on administrative fines. The new legislation will also introduce established procedures for the ERA Board and the new Commission.

14 July 2023

As of today, Friday 7th July, a two-year moratorium on sea urchin collection will come into effect

 

The Government has launched two joint initiatives in an effort to replenish the sea urchin’s population.

Sea urchins play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem by ensuring the survival of 18 different fish species. The absence of sea urchins at sea increases the risk of invasive alien species that negatively impact ecosystems. The sea urchin population in Maltese waters has significantly declined, placing them at risk of extinction.

In the first initiative, the Department of Aquaculture is implementing a restocking programme, where sea urchins will be cultivated and released into the seas to increase their population.

In the second initiative, a Legal Notice comes into effect today, imposing a two-year moratorium on the collection of sea urchins. This means collecting sea urchins will be illegal, and penalties will apply.

The law does not prohibit the importation of sea urchins. Restaurants and fish importers will be required to keep the necessary documentation to verify the origin of the catch in case of inspections.

Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Enterprise, Miriam Dalli and Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Animal Rights Alicia Bugeja Said visited the site where sea urchins are cultivated at Fort Sant Lucian.

The cultivation plan complements Malta’s Multiannual National Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture (2022-2030), emphasising the importance of diversification in aquaculture.

The implementation strategy involves several essential steps. Sea urchins held in captivity in labs will undergo a process to ensure optimal reproductive health. Throughout the project, their growth will be monitored, and detailed studies will be conducted on their nutrition and DNA analysis.

Minister Miriam Dalli explained that the Environmental and Resources Authority commissioned a study on Maltese waters, which determined that the amount of sea urchins in Maltese waters is at risk of extinction.

“This conservation measure is being adopted to ensure that the population of sea urchins in our local waters does not continue to decline. By the end of this moratorium, there should be a sustainable amount of sea urchins in our waters,” said Minister Dalli.

Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said explained, “with this process, sea urchins are collected from Maltese waters for restocking and then released again in our waters to ensure sustainability and food security. The labs at Fort Saint Lucian have been equipped with the appropriate temperature and lighting to prevent stress levels from rising.”

The Parliamentary Secretary continued explaining that two years ago, the Aquaculture Department noticed a decline in sea urchins in Maltese waters and proactively took the initiative to address this issue. “Through this initiative, we are not only addressing the decline in numbers but also conducting further scientific research on sea urchins to gather more information about this species,” concluded Parliamentary Secretary Bugeja Said. ​