Malta’s Marine Monitoring Programme

An update to Malta’s Marine Monitoring Programme was carried out in consultation with stakeholders and the public.

The update was carried out on the basis of the experience gained through the implementation of the first MSFD monitoring programme as part of EMFF 8.3.1, which project also allowed for the development of long-term monitoring protocols for seabirds, marine mammals and marine reptiles.

Synergies were also sought with monitoring required under the Habitats Directives, in view of the expansion of the marine Natura 2000 network since the publication of the first monitoring programme.

The Marine Monitoring Programme was reported to the EU Commission in August 2023. The detailed strategies and related monitoring programmes for the different MSFD GES descriptors are available from the below links.

Status Descriptor	Pressure Descriptor
D1 Biodiversity - Seabirds	D2 Non-indigenous species
D1 Biodiversity - Mammals	D3 Commercial fish and shellfish
D1 Biodiversity - Reptiles	D5 Eutrophication
D1 Biodiversity - Fish & cephalopods	D6 Seafloor integrity
D1 Biodiversity - Pelagic habitats	D7 Hydrographical changes
D1 Biodiversity - Benthic habitats	D8 Contaminants and D9 Contaminants in seafood
D4 Food webs	D10 Marine litter
	D11 Underwater noise