All posts by Maurice Aquilina

Name of Site:  Zona fil-Bahar fil-Grigal ta’ Malta 

Site code: MT0000107

Year of designation: 2012 

Area [ha]: 15519.4 

Annex 1 Protected Habitats:

• 1110 Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time
• 1120 Posidonia beds (Posidonion oceanicae)
• 1170 Reefs
• 8330 Submerged or partially submerged sea caves

 Annex II protected species:

Gibbula nivosa

Importance:

The site was identified in the Maltese marine IBA inventory as result of the EU LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project (LIFE10 NAT/MT/090) due to its importance for Hydrobates pelagicus and Puffinus yelkouan.

Name of Site:  Zona fil-Bahar fl-Inhawi tad-Dwejra (Ghawdex) 

Site Code: MT0000103

Year of designation: 2012 

Area [ha]: 228.61

 Annex 1 Protected Habitats:

• 1120  Posidonia beds (Posidonion oceanicae)
• 1170  Reefs
• 8330 Submerged or partially submerged sea caves

Importance:

The Dwejra coastal area in Gozo is considered as an area of international scientific importance in view of a complex of features of interest known from here, including geological, geomorphological, ecological, archaeological, historical and aesthetic aspects. Considering Posidonia meadows, there is an extensive, though non-continuous, bed within the area of ‘Il-Bajja tad-Dwejra’ (Dwejra Bay) where the seagrass strands are dense and healthy. Rocky reefs are present throughout the area and may either be reefs that rise vertically from a sandy bottom littered with large boulders to join submarine bedrock platforms or submarine continuations of emergent cliffs. Associations with Flabellia petiolata and Peyssonnelia squamaria cover most reef areas. A total of five fully submerged caves and six semi-submerged caves are present in the area.

Name of Site:  Zona fil-Bahar fl-Inhawi ta’ Ghar Lapsi u ta’ Filfla 

Site Code: MT0000102

Year of Natura 2000 designation: 2012 

Area [ha]: 2450.51 

Annex 1 Protected Habitats:

• 1120 Posidonia beds (Posidonion oceanicae)
• 1170 Reefs 

Annex II protected species:

Cystoseira spinosa

Importance:

The islet of Filfla itself is a strict nature reserve and a Natura 2000 site (MT0000016), whereas both the islet and its surrounding marine area are considered as an Important Bird Area (IBA) of EU Importance by BirdLife Malta. The islet of Filfla is also considered a Global Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.

Despite the fact that most of the marine species recorded on site are common around the rest of the Maltese Islands, the site’s location, the relatively high species richness and the relatively unpolluted waters of the site justify its protection. Indeed, this site hosts a rich and diverse biota, reflecting a heterogenous bottom. Considering the Posidonia beds, from a survey carried out in 2002, it was discovered that in the Għar Lapsi area, the Posidonia meadow’s rhizome primary production values are amongst the higher values for the Mediterranean Sea.