Name of Site: Żona fil-Baħar bejn Rdum Majjiesa u Għar Lapsi
Site code: MT0000101
Year of designation: 2006/2018 update
Area [ha]: 1459.6
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:
A rich and diverse biota can be found in the Rdum Majjiesa to Għar Lapsi marine area, complementing its geomorphological characteristics. The site hosts representatives of the main marine habitat types occurring in the Maltese Islands, with the associated biotic assemblages including species and ecosystems of conservation importance. Meadows of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica dominate large areas of the seabed within the 50 metre bathymetric region. Reefs are present along the coasts where sponges, cnidarians, polychaetes, molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms are observed.