Intent and Objectives: Second Update to Malta’s marine strategy pursuant to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC (MSFD) – 3rd cycle

CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 08 August 2025

Closing date: 05 September 2025

Title of the public consultation: Intent and Objectives: Second Update to Malta’s marine strategy pursuant to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC (MSFD) – 3rd cycle

Ministry: Ministry for Environment, Energy & Public Cleanliness (MEEC)

Entity: Environment & Resources Authority (ERA)

 

  1. Background

In terms of Article 51 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), it is duly notified that the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is preparing to update Malta’s marine strategies prepared pursuant to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

The MSFD builds on existing EU legislation and covers specific elements of the marine environment not addressed in other policies. It calls for the achievement or maintenance of Good Environmental Status (GES) in the marine environment by the year 2020 through the development and implementation of marine strategies.

In accordance with Article 17 and Article 19 of the Directive, all the elements of the marine strategy should be reviewed every six years after their initial establishment and the updates should be made available to the public for comments.

The MSFD marine strategy was previously updated during the second cycle as follows:

 

  1.  Consultation

Intent and Objectives

The main objective of the MSFD is to achieve, or maintain, Good Environmental Status (GES) in Europe’s marine waters by 2020, through adoption of an ‘ecosystem-based approach’ whereby management of marine activities is driven by the prime intention to protect and preserve the marine environment. GES is defined by eleven descriptors listed in Annex I to the Directive covering biological elements pertaining to the marine environment and pressures thereon.

GES shall be achieved through the development and implementation of marine strategies, which encompass the following aspects:

    • Assessment of the environmental status of marine waters;
    • Determination of GES, and establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators;
    • Implementation of a monitoring programme for ongoing assessment of GES and targets;
    • Development of a programme of measures designed to achieve GES.

The review carried out as part of the third cycle of the MFSD implementation shall build on the marine strategy previously updated between 2019 and 2023.

ERA invites the public to submit any feedback on the intent and objectives of the Second Update to Malta’s marine strategy.

 

  1. Submission of feedback

Comments are being invited through the feedback form at publicconsultation.gov.mt or otherwise by e-mail through [email protected] by 05 September 2025.

 

  1. Further notes

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.

The updates to Malta’s marine strategy under the MSFD will be available for public consultation in due course at the following web link: https://era.org.mt/consultation-on-legislation-and-policy/