Life+ Benthic Habitat Research for marine Natura 2000 site designation.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Marine habitats are becoming more vulnerable, largely due to the impact of human activities. Some are listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive. Following a Natura 2000 marine biogeographic seminar in 2010, and various communications with the Commission, Malta is required to protect some of these marine habitats. However, it lacks marine habitat data and a detailed, central database. As a result, it is not possible to create a comprehensive marine habitats map. Currently, marine Natura 2000 sites are restricted to coastal waters and have been designated only on the basis of the presence of the priority habitat, Posidonia oceanica meadows. Other priority marine habitats need to be surveyed, mapped, and included in the Natura 2000 network.

OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of this project were to:

Determine the distribution of marine habitats listed in Annex 1 of the Habitats Directive, namely sandbanks, reefs and submerged and partially submerged sea caves, with the aim of extending the existing Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) and identifying new proposed Sites of Community Importance (pSCIs) to be included in the Natura 2000 Network;

Increase participation and coordination of relevant stakeholders and their awareness; and

Determine the conservation objectives for marine Natura 2000 sites.

RESULTS

The LIFE BaĦAR for Natura 2000 project resulted in 8 new marine Natura 2000 sites proposed. Up from 2016, this marks an increase of 611km2 of protected areas to conserve marine habitats and the species that live in them. With these new sites, Malta now protects over 4 100km2 of its waters – more than 35% of the country’s Fisheries Management Zone.

Sites were prioritised using data collected and interpreted from marine-based surveys. The 8 sites are

three inshore sites (extensions to existing coastal sites) to protect reefs and sea caves;

five offshore areas to protect reefs and sea caves – two completely new sites, three extensions Such a coverage increase of marine protected areas led to extra protection for over 100 inshore known caves, 17 newly-discovered offshore caves, and the overall protection of 148 known caves in Maltese waters. The process also filled in data gaps by locating and mapping 89 caves, 37 of which are emergent, along the coasts of the Maltese islands. This data will help future management efforts.

Reef habitat coverage was also extended both in coastal areas and offshore, from 4.33km2 in 2012 to 107.63km2 at the end of the project. Offshore reefs account for 94% of all reef habitat. Offshore areas were chosen based on the presence of reef structures and offshore caves in deep waters. These areas comprise reefs, as well as habitat-forming species such as the cold water corals Madrepora oculata, Leiopathes glaberrima, Lophelia pertusa, and Corallium rubrum, and communities formed by gorgonians, in particular Callogorgia verticillata.

Coastal site coverage increased by 1.90 km2, or 44%, compared to 2012. This was the result of extending areas and thanks to better delineation of the geogenic reefs. As well as geogenic reefs, coastal sites are habitats for the habitat-forming orange coral Astroides calycularis. Total coverage now stands at 6.23 km2.

Hundreds of species were observed during underwater surveys using research vehicles equipped with sonar and remotely operated vehicles. Surveys covered depths of 1 000m below sea level and up to 25 nautical miles out to the Fisheries Management Zone boundary. Species included some 75 different species of fish, 55 cnidarians (such as corals, sea pens, anemones), 35 crustaceans, 32 molluscs, 21 echinoderms (starfish, brittle stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sea-lilies) and 15 sponges, as well as various tunicates, bryozoans, brachiopods and annelids.

Sandy areas which could potentially host sandbanks were also targeted by the project. This was to address questions raised during project preparations about the insufficient scale of this habitat. Data collected on these areas, which are found within previously designated SCIs, will serve to inform and guide later conservation measures.

Designating Natura 2000 sites is the first step in the protection and management process. The project identified conservation objectives and established an after-LIFE conservation plan. These are to be followed up by the Maltese Environment and Resources Authority and other parties. Project data will be used by students from the University of Malta, and project findings will be published in scientific literature to spread knowledge about the country’s marine environment and inform scientific-based marine policy and management.

Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).