[WATCH] Eight areas to protect seabirds on land and at sea

Eight areas to protect seabirds on land and at sea

Eight marine Special Protection Areas (SPAs) within the Natura 2000 network will be giving seabirds in Malta full protection on land and at sea.

BirdLife Malta the eight SPAs on Tuesday in a conference organised by BirdLife Malta at the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel in Cirkewwa.

It thus brought to a close its five-year LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project, which was funded by the EU and included the participation of three other local and international partners.

Throughout the five years, BirdLife Malta’s researchers identified the most important sites at sea frequented by seabirds known as marine Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and proposed to government that they be legally protected and managed as SPAs.

The cabinet approved the proposal in April this year, also fulfilling Malta’s obligations under the EU Birds Directive, which establishes a network of SPAs across Europe to protect the natural habitats of endangered and migratory species.

EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella praised BirdLife Malta and the other participating partners for their hard work.

The SPA designation was announced by environment minister Josè Herrera after these were approved at cabinet level and given the green light by the European Commission.