Exhibition highlights marine wonders

A photographic exhibition has been set up at the Malta National Aquarium to raise awareness on local marine habitats and the importance of their collective protection.
Titled Malta’s Blue Wonders, the exhibition was set up by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and features several new habitats and species around the Maltese islands that were discovered through the LIFE BaĦar Project.
The project was carried out between October 1, 2013 and June 30, 2018 with the aim of determining the distribution of some marine habitats, including sandbanks, reefs, submerged or partially submerged sea caves; increase participation and coordination of relevant stakeholders and their awareness; and determine the conservation objectives for marine Natura 2000 sites.
As a result, eight new marine areas were designated and proposed as Natura 2000 sites: three inshore sites (extensions to existing coastal marine protected areas), which have been designated to protect reefs and sea caves; and five offshore areas, which were designated to protect reefs and sea covers. The latter include two completely new sites and three extensions to existing marine-protected areas.


At the launch of the...