Professor Alan Deidun, a leading marine biologist in Malta, has raised concerns about the significant damage being inflicted on the seabed at Crystal Lagoon, Comino, due to unregulated boat anchoring.
In a recent Facebook post, Deidun emphasized the urgent need for authorities to implement regulations on where and when boats can anchor, stressing that ecological mooring measures are crucial to protect the marine environment.
A ship’s anchor, along with its mooring chain, can cause severe abrasion to the seafloor, leading to irreversible damage to delicate marine ecosystems. The constant shifting of these anchors can devastate the seabed, harming habitats that are vital for marine life.
Currently, Maltese law does not specify where or when boats can anchor, with regulations only addressing the need for a permit and ensuring that mooring does not damage other vessels.
Deidun’s appeal underscores the gap in environmental protection in Malta’s maritime regulations, calling for immediate action to prevent further ecological harm.
In the comments several of his followers revealed that this problem is also present in various other Maltese bays such as in Hofriet in Delimara.
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