In Maltese we have a saying that in a rough translation equates to: “The baby that does not cry, does not eat”. Our baby is our diving environment and all that affects us.
The below is a cry we sent a week ago to persons high up in the goverment circles…
Over the last years, Diving in Malta has been on the increase from both the local resident population as well as from visiting tourists who purposefully visit our islands to enjoy the marine environment. Significantly, it is also estimated to have become a significant part of the tourism product, especially in Gozo. A statistic quoted within the Diving Strategy document issued by the MTA and MGOZ last year identified that over 131,000 tourists travelled to the Maltese Islands specifically for diving tourism and that close to 178,000 actually dived during their stay in Malta.
The “Developing a Sustainable Diving Industry in the Maltese Islands – A strategy for the future 2022” document issued last year identified several objectives and actions that are to be undertaken to improve the diving tourism product, but with which, the local resident divers who number in the hundreds when just considering members of diving clubs, would also benefit.It is notable as well that whilst a sizeable portion of the employed individual within the recreational diving industry are seasonal workers (mainly foreigners), diving centres themselves identify the need and current challenges of year-round availability of locally resident staff in order to meet demand.
In the last few months, in collaboration with industry and recreational divers we have observed the progress of this strategy on the ground (and in the water :)). Unfortunately, even though for the purpose of an article on the site I attempted to contact the MTA, no replies were provided to our questions.
Local divers (and also members of the recreational diving industry) feel that this Strategy will be again another flop, as was the case with a similar (almost copy/paste in certain respects) document that had been issued in 2012 under a previous administration. A key issue appears to be the lack of ownership / dedication to the matter, as the authorities issuing the document have a lot on their plate, with diving being just one of the other issues they work on.
The consultants advising seem to have clearly identified this issue and included one of the actions to be “Appoint a single entity with overall responsibility for the provision and maintenanceof infrastructure at Designated Shore Dive Sites in Malta”.
Unfortunately, as per our article on the site published earlier this month, no progress was registered on this proposal. (Article link: https://www.divinginfo.mt/diving-strategy-2022-one-year-later-disappointing-results/). Even minor maintenance and dive site traffic arrangements have been challenging as we report in various instances lack of attention and action.
The key to solve these issues is clear. We suggest that the single entity should go beyond just provision of infrastructure and maintenance as described in the strategy but to go beyond it.
The single entity should be involved in the aspects of managing diving sites and facilities such as moorings at popular boat diving sites, chasing/promoting introduction and updating of regulation, promoting environmental stewardship and training, promote education about the marine environment and diving industry opportunities in our schools and with the general public, and coordinate better enforcement within the marine environment. It would be also suggested that it brings together the various public entities such as TM, MTA, MGOZ, PWD, Heritage Malta’s UCHU, ERA and DFA as well as the Diving Industry representatives, Diving Clubs, related environment NGOs and administrators of the Cirkewwa Marine Park etc. These are all important stakeholders who all appear to be acting out of sync, or not interacting at all.
We feel that as a country, whilst we are already high on the list of Mediterranean diving destinations, far surpassing Cyprus which lacks attractions and marine life as is found around our waters, but challenged by the growth in Italy, Greece and Croatia, we are losing out on reaping additional benefits and rewards through the lack of coordination. The diving industry and related opportunities for residents can expand into areas that are at the moment being left out. Such areas include technical and scientific diving training for which our islands could become the world-wide epicentre bringing together high-end manufacturers, training providers, promoting educational institutions (where ITS already has started), commercial diving training, hyperbaric medical training etc. These may take over the potential slowdown in certain other industries facing induced challenges through external forces, and provide economic growth in a sustainable manner through higher added value jobs and industry with a fixed link to the marine environment resource surrounding us.
Furthermore, the marine environment around Malta is also a source of recreation in a relatively unspoilt “park”. Whilst challenges with unsustainable maritime activities do exist, there is the possibility for action to be taken to protect, preserve and enhance the enjoyment of our surrounding marine environment beyond just words. Some of the measures needed would improve the quality of recreational surface activities and facilities for such operators, while at the same time promote recovery, such as damage to reefs caused on a regular basis by uncontrolled anchoring.
Unfortunately – the lack of coordination due to different actions resting with several authorities, departments and entities prevents all this. The reason for writing to you is to ask for assistance to encourage this matter to be escalated in the government’s agenda as much as possible to turn the current “niche” tourism market into a larger contributor to the local economy
Email by divinginfo.mt to the Head of Government Customer Care and the Head of the OPM secretariat.
So far we have not got even an acknowledgement. Share to whoever may help, or join us in crying out to authorities for some action using the share buttons below.
