After a wait of several years, with the first draft seen in early 2023 – today Government announced the Ċiekewwa Marine Park Management Plan. In reality, ERA published a reduced version of previouly shared draft plans that had been circulated for stakeholder consultation.
Unfortunately, beyond trimming the plan, it doesn’t seem that any additions have been made, whilst some changes indicate that there have been minor edits
On the other hand, it is quite comic seeing some plans which have been delivered in the past year already still mentioned as “to be done” – e.g. Underwater Camera and Park website, as well as references in the document to an Annex which has not been added in the final 19-page document.
Whilst we digest it further, here’s a copy of it!
For those who don’t read long PDFs easily, here’s the main objectives of the management plan for the coming four years:
- OO1.1: To undertake surveys to identify the benthic habitat types present within the Marine Park
- OO2.1: To undertake surveys annually to assess the changes in the spatial distribution of Posidonia oceanica within the Marine Park
- OO3.1: To undertake annual assessments of the conservation status of the Posidonia oceanica habitat
- OO4.1: To identify the uses and their distribution across the different areas of the Marine Park and assess the potential of ‘unused’ areas as new areas of activity
- OO5.1: To spatially define specific areas within the Marine Park and identify the permissible activities within each area
- OO7.4: To develop a code of conduct for the Marine Park and to install signage for the different areas and permissible activities within each zone
- OO6.1: To install night-vision CCTV at the Marine Park, to monitor use at night
- OO6.2: To establish an agreement between the enforcement authorities on enforcement powers and responsibilities
- OO7.1: To create a website specific for the Cirkewwa Marine Park
- OO7.2: To create educational material to be available at the park office and to be distributed in schools
- OO8.1: To deploy an underwater camera and set up a live feed, which can be also promoted on social media, to create awareness on the different habitats and species
- OO8.2: To set up a virtual reality experience, as a promotional and educational tool
- OO9.1: To explore together with the diving community the facilities needed to ensure safety of diving in the Marine Park, and to identify and implement safety systems as agreed with the diving community
- OO9.2: To engage the diving community and other commercial operators in the area to agree on potential contributions to the management of the Marine Park
- OO7.3: To consider the setting up of a visitors’ centre, with information panels and other activities
- OO9.3: To actively apply for EU and/or other external funding for the long-term management of the Marine Park