Gozo News

The University of Malta said it had drawn up a five-year plan to introduce more artificial reefs in Malta, inspired by a 2008 scientific report by researchers at the University of Malta.

All of the artificial reefs will be located within Malta’s specially managed marine protected areas (MPAs). The university said the locations have yet to be determined.

Artificial reefs, or structures sunk to the seabed similar to shipwrecks, mimic some of the functions of natural reefs – protecting, regenerating and increasing the abundance of marine living resources.

The scheme will be run by Ambjent Malta, which manages the Natura 2000 site.

The University of Malta explains that to date, only one reef structure has been deployed in the Maltese Islands, which was deployed in St Julian’s in 2004.

2008, University of Malta Published scientific report It showed that there was strong scientific evidence that species diversity had increased in coral reefs and surrounding areas, including a set of recommendations for more stable structures of artificial reefs after deployment.

Ambjent Malta is also developing a long-term action plan for scientific research over the next 10 years, the University of Malta said.

Image: University of Malta