Transport Malta announced in a local notice to mariners No. 033 of 2024 a total of 17 sites reserved for swimmers, in which fishing and/or marine vessel navigation is not allowed. These sites are to be cordoned off with ropes and floating markers. The notice to mariners is attached below, and includes both GPS points and a visual representation of these sites, which are restricted between the 1 May and 30 September.
Most of these sites are not used for Scuba diving, though some may be used for initial training.
Why the same cannot be done for diving sites such as Cirkewwa Marine Park, Um el Faroud Wreck, Exiles / Tug2, HMS Maori, Part of Ghar Lapsi, Anchor Bay, P31 (Comino), Lantern Point, Santa Maria Caves, Xatt l-Ahmar Wrecks, Ras il-Hobz and Dwejra Azure Window Reef (just picking the most popular shore diving sites and the most popular Comino boat diving sites banning all but diving support vessels) is not understandable.
Divers are still waiting for any update to the notice to mariners related to conservation areas around wrecks of December 2023, for which almost a hundred divers sent their protests calling on Transport Malta and the Department of Fisheries to stop the needless allowance of marine traffic for trolling fishing. We are also aware that the Occupational Health and Safety Authority was more than concerned on the matter. However, at least in the public eye, the Minister responsible for fishing has doubled down on claiming that the November update of the relevant notice to mariners was “an administrative error”.
The Honorable IVAN BARTOLO asked the Honorable ANTON REFALO (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights):
Can the Minister answer the parliamentary question 14072 which was originally asked to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works and say why fishing with trolling is being allowed again in the conservation areas around the sea where are the remains through the Notice to Mariners number 215 of 2023, issued by Transport Malta on behalf of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture on 1 December 2023? Can he also say why this was only stopped for a period of two weeks, when diving associations and schools have been asking for years for these practices to be stopped?Answer:
I inform the Hon. Questioner that fishing by trolling is surface fishing. This means that surface fishing in the conservation areas around the sea where there are remains through Notice to Mariners number 215 of 2023, does not harm the same remains. With reference to the answer to Parliamentary Question number 14073, I draw attention to the fact that in the Notice it is clearly stated that all vessels, except those mentioned, must stay away from Conservation areas for safety reasons and maintain a safe distance and approach at a safe speed at all times. In addition, the fishermen must also observe the distance to the signals thrown by the same divers.I am informed that trolling fishing was not reflected in the first publication of the mentioned Notice to Mariners, not because it was suspended for a period of two weeks, but because there was an administrative error in the first publication which was corrected.
Translated with semi-automatic translation from PQ16834 https://pq.gov.mt/PQWeb.nsf/7561f7daddf0609ac1257d1800311f18/c1257d2e0046dfa1c1258af9002b36c4!OpenDocument
Divinginfo.mt believes the above claim to be absolute horseshit (excuse the expletive). Anyone who has a differing opinion may refer to the changes in the November notice from its previous iteration which may be seen below. No person of sound mind would call this “an administrative error”!!!! All opinions voiced over the past months is that authorities are spineless against a few irresponsible fishermen who would be targeting such sites irrespective of safety for divers and Malta as a diving destination, and ignoring any benefit of having pure no-take conservation zones around these islands replenished outside areas.
Divers at Cirkewwa today could also notice countless numbers of vessels navigating directly over these wrecks, with no enforcement to be seen being applied on pleasure and other commercial boats which keep breaking the rules and putting the life of freedivers and scuba/rebreather divers at risk.
Anyways, if you want to dive / freedive safely with lesser chance of being hit by boats or being caught by a trolling fisherman, please find the cordoned off zones below.
