Laws related to diving and the marine environment in Malta

Receational Diving Services

Diving Centres are regulated by the Subsidiary Legislation SL409.13 – “Recreational Diving Services Regulations”.

• “The aim of these regulations is to establish the licence and other requirements for service providers in the field of recreational scuba diving.”

• “apply to any physical or legal person offering recreational diving services to the public and any other person employed by such physical or legal person to carry out any of the duties prescribed in these regulations”

The regulations’ enforcement falls under the Malta Tourism Authority.

You may access these regulations at the following link.

If you wish to report a case of illegal provision of diving services, you can contact the MTA Enforcement department, directly via email on: enforcement.mta@visitmalta.com or by calling at MTA reception on 2291 5000 and your call will be transferred accordingly.

Underwater Cultural Heritage

The Cultural Heritage Act, Chapter 445 of the Laws of Malta, includes a special section related to Underwater Cultural Heritage.

• This Act empowers the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage to declare remains found on the seabed that are situated in the territorial waters of Malta and are at least fifty years old as Underwater Cultural Heritage;
• It may also declare particular areas as protected zones;
• It appoints custody of historic shipwrecks and objects within the scope of the act; and
• Obliges reporting of discoveries.

You may access this Act at the following link.

Fishery Regulations

The Fishery Regulations, Subsidiary Legislation 425.01, regulates certain types of fishing, which of particular interest to divers, include fishing nets and fishing within bays.

The Fish Species Codes Minimum FIsh Sizes – Species list from Fisheries Site (https://agricultureservices.gov.mt/en/fisheries/Pages/controlUnit.aspx)

The Fish Marketing Regulations, Subsidiary Legislation 425.02 bans the retail or acting as a hawker unless in possession of a licence from the Director in charge of fisheries.

The Fishing Vessels Regulations, Subsidiary legislation 425.07 regulates fishing vessels, and most notably in regulations 18 and 19, requires fishing gear to be marked with the vessel’s number.

The European Union Council Regulation 1967 of 2006 (directly applicable in Malta as a member of the EU) also bans the use of spear guns whilst using underwater breathing apparatus, as well as during the night (dusk till dawn)

Legal Notice 146 of 2013 imposes a two-year moratorium (ending in July 2025) for harvesting of sea-urchins.

Click on links above to access the relative regulations.

You may report illegalities on +356 2292 6990 (May 2023), lost fishing gear for retrieval on T: 2292 6888

(Old numbers) F: 8007 2240, T: 2292 6888, M: 9967 4933​,

E: infofisheries.mafa@gov.mt

Trammel net prohibited zones (Link removed, but the map is saved below)