National overview: Malta
Table of contents
- Who is responsible for MSFD implementation?
- Where is the MSFD implemented?
- Areas for MSFD reporting
- Regional cooperation
- Uses and human activities and their pressures on marine environment
- Pressures affecting environmental status
- Current environmental status and extent to which GES is achieved (as reported in 2018)
- Environmental targets to achieve GES
- Measures to meet environmental targets and to achieve GES
- Exceptions reported when targets or GES cannot be achieved
- Assessments of progress in MSFD implementation (Art. 12, 16) / 2012
- Assessments of progress in MSFD implementation (Art. 12, 16) / 2018
- Reporting history and performance
Who is responsible for MSFD implementation?
MSFD Article | Art. 7 Competent authorities |
Report date | 2020-01-22 |
Access reports | View all reports |
CA code (EU, national) |
MT_MSFD_1OPM |
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Acronym, Name (national) |
OPM: Office of The Prime Minister (L-Uffiċċju tal-Prim Ministru) |
Address |
Merchants Street, Valletta/Valletta, Malta, VLT 1061 |
URL |
http://www.opm.gov.mt |
Legal status |
The legal status of the Office of the Prime Minister as the competent authority arises from the Marine Policy Framework Regulations (LN73/11 and LN365/18). |
Responsibilities |
As per the Marine Policy Framework Regulations (LN73/11 and LN365/18), ‘the Competent Authority’ means the Office of the Prime Minister, and such other body or person as the Prime Minister may prescribe and different bodies or persons may be designated as |
Reference |
www.opm.gov.mt |
Membership |
Interministerial consultations on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive are managed and overseen by the Office of the Prime Minister. |
Regional coordination |
A series of bilateral meetings with other Member States within the region will be set up to discuss the way forward. |
Where is the MSFD implemented?
MSFD Article | Art. 3(1) Marine waters |
Report date | 2022-02-16 |
Access reports | View all reports |
Member state marine waters |
The water column boundary for MSFD purposes shall be taken as a boundary which extends to 25nm without prejudice to Malta’s jurisdiction beyond this limit. This incorporates the WFD Coastal Waters. The boundary used for the definition of seabed/subsoil is based on the area currently designated for hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation without prejudice to Malta’s continental shelf boundary. This incorporates the WFD Coastal Waters. |
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Areas for MSFD reporting
MSFD Article | Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions |
Report date | 2022-02-16 |
Access reports | View all reports |
Region / subregion description |
The Maltese Islands form part of the Mediterranean region and the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea sub-region. |
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Subdivisions |
The Maltese Islands form part of the Mediterranean region and the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea sub-region. |
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MRUs description (AreaType) |
The reporting requirements of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC are linked to specific parts of marine waters within each marine region or subregion. Good Environmental Status (GES) must always be determined at a (sub)regional scale (Art. 3(5)), however assessments of whether GES has been achieved can be at a finer scale, in line with the scales of assessment stipulated by MSFD Commission Decision 2017/848/EU. For this purpose, Member States are required to determine Marine Reporting Units (MRUs) defining the areas used for notifying to the Commission the information needed for each MSFD report. Reports include the assessment of status and the determination of GES which, in accordance with Commission Decision 2017/848/EU needs to incorporate the proportion of the area over which the threshold value that defines GES must be achieved. Malta is revising the assessment areas/MRUs to reflect the requirements of Commission Decision 2017/484/EU. |
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MRUs |
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Regional cooperation
MSFD Article | Art. 5(2) and Art. 6 Regional cooperation |
Report date | 2022-02-16 |
Access reports | View all reports |
Region/ subregion |
MIC |
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Art. 8 countries involved |
IT,
, |
Art. 8 nature of coordination |
Regional cooperation, on a bilateral level, was limited to a meeting called by Italy in July 2012. |
Art. 8 regional coherence |
Incomplete |
Art. 8 regional coherence problems |
Due to delays with respect to Articles 8, 9 and 10 deliverables, the MSFD Initial Assessment may not take into account the whole regional scale. Nevertheless, all efforts will be made to engage in regional cooperation to ensure attainment of MSFD objectives at a regional level, where practicable and possible. |
Art. 9 countries involved |
IT,
, |
Art. 9 nature of coordination |
Throughout the past two years, Malta has followed the Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) process within the framework of the Barcelona Convention, and has participated in all EcAp Coordination Group meetings during which 'Good Environmental Status' at a regional level was discussed. On a bilateral level, a meeting was called by Italy in July 2012. |
Art. 9 regional coherence |
Incomplete |
Art. 9 regional coherence problems |
Due to delays with respect to Articles 8, 9 and 10 deliverables, the proposed GES may not take into account the whole regional scale. Nevertheless, all efforts will be made to engage in regional cooperation to ensure attainment of such targets at a regional level, where practicable and possible. |
Art. 10 countries involved |
IT,
, |
Art. 10 nature of coordination |
Throughout the past two years, Malta has followed the Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) process within the framework of the Barcelona Convention, and has participated in all EcAp Coordination Group meetings during which 'Good Environmental Status' at a regional level was discussed. On a bilateral level, a meeting was called by Italy in July 2012. |
Art. 10 regional coherence |
Incomplete |
Art. 10 regional coherence problems |
Due to delays with respect to Articles 8, 9 and 10 deliverables, the proposed targets may not take into account the whole regional scale. Nevertheless, all efforts will be made to engage in regional cooperation to ensure attainment of such targets at a regional level, where practicable and possible. |
Uses and human activities and their pressures on marine environment
Title | Analysis of predominant pressures and impacts, including human activity (Art. 8(1)(b)) |
Access reports | View reports |
Pressures affecting environmental status
Title | Assessments of current environental status and pressures and impacts (Art. 8(1)(a)(b)) |
Access reports | View reports |
Current environmental status and extent to which GES is achieved (as reported in 2018)
Title | Assessments of current environental status and pressures and impacts (Art. 8(1)(a)(b)) |
Access reports | View reports |
Environmental targets to achieve GES
Title | Environmental targets (Art. 10) |
Access reports | View reports |
Measures to meet environmental targets and to achieve GES
Title | Programme of measures (Art. 13) |
Access reports | View reports |
Exceptions reported when targets or GES cannot be achieved
Title | Exceptions (Art. 14) |
Access reports | View reports |
Assessments of progress in MSFD implementation (Art. 12, 16) / 2012
Title | Implementation of marine strategies (Art. 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18) |
First cycle | 2012-2017 |
Access reports | View Art12 (8-9-10) report |
Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea
Descriptor | Article 9 - GES Determination | Article 8 - Initial Assessment | Article 10 - Environmental Targets | |
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Pressure-based descriptors |
D2 - Non-indigenous species
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Inadequate (1)
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Adequate (3)
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Inadequate (1)
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D5 - Eutrophication
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Inadequate (1)
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Partially adequate (2)
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Inadequate (1)
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D7 - Hydrographical changes
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Inadequate (1)
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Inadequate (1)
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Inadequate (1)
|
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D8 - Contaminants
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Partially adequate (2)
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Partially adequate (2)
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Partially adequate (2)
|
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D9 - Contaminants in seafood
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Partially adequate (2)
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Inadequate (1)
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Not reported (0)
|
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D10 - Marine litter
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Inadequate (1)
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Adequate (3)
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Inadequate (1)
|
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D11 - Energy, incl. underwater noise
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Inadequate (1)
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Inadequate (1)
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Inadequate (1)
|
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State-based descriptors |
D1 - Biodiversity – birds
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Partially adequate (2)
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Partially adequate (2)
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Partially adequate (2)
|
D1 - Biodiversity – mammals
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Partially adequate (2)
|
Partially adequate (2)
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Partially adequate (2)
|
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D1 - Biodiversity – reptiles
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Partially adequate (2)
|
Partially adequate (2)
|
Partially adequate (2)
|
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D1 - Biodiversity – fish
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Partially adequate (2)
|
Partially adequate (2)
|
Partially adequate (2)
|
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D1 - Biodiversity – cephalopods
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Partially adequate (2)
|
Partially adequate (2)
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Partially adequate (2)
|
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D3 - Commercial fish and shellfish
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Inadequate (1)
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Adequate (3)
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Inadequate (1)
|
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D1 - Biodiversity – pelagic habitats
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Partially adequate (2)
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Partially adequate (2)
|
Partially adequate (2)
|
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D6 - Sea-floor integrity/D1 Biodiversity - benthic habitats
|
Partially adequate (2)
|
Partially adequate (2)
|
Partially adequate (2)
|
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D4 - Food webs/D1 Biodiversity - ecosystems
|
Not reported (0)
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Not reported (0)
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Inadequate (1)
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Assessments of progress in MSFD implementation (Art. 12, 16) / 2018
Title | Implementation of marine strategies (Art. 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18) |
Second cycle | 2018-2023 |
Access reports | View Art12 (8-9-10) report |
Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea
Descriptor | Article 9 - GES Determination | Article 8 - Initial Assessment | Article 10 - Environmental Targets | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pressure-based descriptors |
D2 - Non-indigenous species
|
Good (3)
|
Good (3)
|
Poor (2)
|
D5 - Eutrophication
|
Poor (2)
|
Good (3)
|
Poor (2)
|
|
D7 - Hydrographical changes
|
Poor (2)
|
Poor (2)
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Not reported (0)
|
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D8 - Contaminants
|
Good (3)
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Good (3)
|
Good (3)
|
|
D9 - Contaminants in seafood
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Good (3)
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Very good (4)
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Poor (2)
|
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D10 - Marine litter
|
Good (3)
|
Very poor (1)
|
Poor (2)
|
|
D11 - Energy, incl. underwater noise
|
Poor (2)
|
Poor (2)
|
Not reported (0)
|
|
State-based descriptors |
D1 - Biodiversity – birds
|
Good (3)
|
Poor (2)
|
Good (3)
|
D1 - Biodiversity – mammals
|
Good (3)
|
Poor (2)
|
Good (3)
|
|
D1 - Biodiversity – reptiles
|
Good (3)
|
Good (3)
|
Good (3)
|
|
D1 - Biodiversity – fish
|
Poor (2)
|
Poor (2)
|
Very good (4)
|
|
D1 - Biodiversity – cephalopods
|
Poor (2)
|
Good (3)
|
Good (3)
|
|
D3 - Commercial fish and shellfish
|
Good (3)
|
Good (3)
|
Good (3)
|
|
D1 - Biodiversity – pelagic habitats
|
Good (3)
|
Good (3)
|
Good (3)
|
|
D6 - Sea-floor integrity/D1 Biodiversity - benthic habitats
|
Poor (2)
|
Good (3)
|
Poor (2)
|
|
D4 - Food webs/D1 Biodiversity - ecosystems
|
Poor (2)
|
Very poor (1)
|
Not reported (0)
|