Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1170309
JAMES DEBONO MALTA has designated an im- pressive 35% of its coastline as Marine Protected Areas. Yet management plans restricting human activities in these sites are still not ready, and public consultation on the proposed measures are expected to start at the end of this year, when imple- mentation should be starting in 2020. Indeed the World Wildlife Fund has denounced the lack of management plans for marine parks designated in 11 EU mem- ber states – including Malta – noting that in the absence of such plans these protected areas are nothing but "paper parks". Management plans for marine protected areas (MPA) regulate sensitive sectors like tuna pen- ning, commercial and recrea- tional fishing, and could impinge on land reclamation projects and coastal developments. The Environment and Re- sources Authority is still con- cluding its identification of sites suitable for land reclamation. An area between Xghajra and Por- tomaso in St Julian's was the only area identified for large-scale land reclamation, according to a leaked report, lying just outside a Marine Protected Area; Qalet Marku, which falls within a Ma- rine Protected Area, has been identified for or breakwaters, marinas and touristic develop- ment. The first MPA in Maltese wa- ters was designated in 2008. Designations were made in 2016, following the results of the LIFE+ MIGRATE and the LIFE+ Malta Seabird project, and in 2018 with the completion of the LIFE BAĦAR for N2K project. A spokesperson for ERA ac- knowledged that designation is only the first step in creating effective MPAs, which has to be followed by a management plan with a list of measures to be im- plemented. "This is a complex process, which takes time and has to consider not only the protection and conservation of habitats and species within a MPA, but also economic and recreational activ- ities, needs and potential spatial and resource-related conflicts; hence they are set following the consideration of socio-economic aspects, apart from the obvious environmental ones," the ERA told MaltaToday. Over the past three years, ERA has been consulting relevant stakeholders and entities to de- termine their interests, needs and concerns, to identify ap- proaches for the management of MPAs. In 2018, the first draft measures were presented and discussed through focus group meetings with several stakeholders and entities. The final drafted objectives and measures will be issued for public consultation "in a few months' time", the ERA spokes- person said. The implementa- tion of the proposed measures is expected to start in 2020. Whilst the responsibility for the drafting of conservation ob- jectives and measures falls under ERA's responsibility the imple- mentation of the management plans "will require the coopera- tion and support of several other entities and stakeholders," the ERA spokesperson said. WWF denounces paper parks The WWF has denounced that Europe's marine wildlife sanc- tuaries are no more than "paper parks" that are failing to protect the seas. Under EU law, coastal states are obliged to create marine pro- tected areas to protect specific species or habitats. The report found that marine protected areas with enforceable manage- ment plans only cover 1.8% of Europe's seas, with management plans. "This effectively makes them paper parks," WWF said in a statement on its report that assessed progress in the EU's 23 coastal states. The requirement to create ma- rine protected areas is part of the EU's efforts to meet internation- al targets to ensure that 10% of the world's oceans are protected by 2020 – a goal campaigners believe is too weak to ensure thriving seas and oceans in the long-term. Janica Borg, lead author of the study, said it was impossible for Europe to meet the 2020 target. "Without urgent action to im- plement effective plans for na- ture conservation or restoration, with proper restrictions against extractive activities, nearly all EU MPAs will fail to support our ocean's resilience in the climate emergency," she said. The study found that 19 of 23 member states were falling behind on developing manage- ment plans while 11 had not an- nounced any plan at all. This has left wildlife in the Bal- tic, North Sea and Mediterra- nean vulnerable to overfishing, bottom trawling and drilling for oil or gas. The European commission, which is responsible for uphold- ing EU law has urged member states to create larger reserves in deeper waters, noting that most marine protected areas are too small, as more than half of the sites are less than 30sq.km. Marine protected areas restrict economic activities, but also contain smaller marine reserves, where all fishing and energy ex- traction is banned. WWF argues that short-term economic interests have been prioritised for too long. "Tradi- tionally, marine protection has been seen as a sideline activity," Borg said. "It is easy at first to put your fisheries in place, to put your shipping in place and only then to start looking at the area we have for conserving nature. But that is actually the wrong way round." jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt 12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 SEPTEMBER 2019 NEWS COURT NOTICE The Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals notifies that the First Hall of the Civil Court ordered the sale by Judicial Auction of the following property to be held in room numbered 78, nearby the Courts Archives, Level -1, Courts of Justice, Republic Street, Valletta. Date Time Judicial Sale No Property 01 st October, 2019 10.30am 4/18 - EM Farrugia Christian Dr (ID473663M) et noe vs Mifsud Cutajar Mark Dr et noe Property named 'Aurora' numbered 35 street level (elevated ground floor) and an underlaying garage at semi basement level numbered 37 in Triq il- Fuħħar, Mosta. The property is let for a period of 15 years commenced from the 1st of December 2011 for the sum of €350 monthly. The value of the property adjusted according to the effect of the let is valued at €349,781. 10 th October, 2019 10.30am 9/18 - AZ Azzolini Andrea Claudio (Italian Identity Card YA9423597) vs Gysler Gustazo (ID23693A) et House of character with arable land of circa 1,935 metres square, numbered 13, named Ta' Mananni, in Triq San Iljun, Bubaqra, Zurrieq, with its own airspace, subject to temporary ground rent of €10.48 yearly for 200 years, which commenced on the 15th August, 1907, otherwise free and unencumbered, with all its rights and appurtenances, valued at €2,850,000 15 th October, 2019 10.30am 49/18 - EM Gialanze Joseph (ID668044M) et vs Barjola (Real Estate) Limited (C17670) Garage internally numbered 1, forming part of a building complex without number, named Cassar Buildings, situated in Triq il- Barjola in Gudja, consisting of a block of garage rather a store with an office, and overlaying offices, which property is all found built on a divided share of land known as plot numbered 4, measuring approxiametely 171 sqm, forming part of the territory known as "Tal-Mithna", known as "Ta' Mensiva", known as "Ta' Don Angelo" and bounding North with property of Carmelo Cassar Limited, with East with property of C.A.E.J.A. Abela Brothers and West by the said Triq Barjola. The garage, free and unencumbered, with all its rights and enjoyments, is valued at €253,000. 17 th October, 2019 10.30am 29/13 - AZ Bland sive Mintoff Bland Joan Dr (ID706451M) et noe vs Polidano Josephine (ID334383M) Divided portion fabricable land in Safi forming part of a territory known as "Ta' Danjel" of circa 198.77 metres squared, bounding North with Triq il-Kuccard, and from East and West with property of Saveria Farrugia or her successors, as marked with red on the plan attached with the act dated 29th July, 1982 published from Notary Joseph R. Darmanin subject to an annual and perpetual ground rent of €93.17 each year, payable forward from the act date, including the benefits on the same land including the house named Mount Blanche in Triq il- Kuccard, Safi, valued at €350,000. 22 nd October, 2019 10.30am 39/18 - EGL HSBC Bank Malta plc (C3177) vs Curmi Martin (ID559564M) Apartment internally marked numbered 2, situated on the second floor, forming part of a block of apartments named Redentur Flats, in Triq Salvu Busuttil, San Gwann, bounded on the North by the same road, on the East by the stairwell of the same block and in part by property of the successors in title of John Gracey, on the West by property of the successors in title of John Gracey and half undivided share of the stairwell that leads to the said apartment together with his half undivided share of the roof, subject to annual and perpetual ground rent of €0.93 each year 29 th October, 2019 11.30am 55/15 - JGL Miller Distributors Limited (C344) vs Michael Chetcuti (ID74185M) Maisonette without an official number, internally marked with the name Sandlake, forming part of Victoria Court block, in Triq Victor Denaro, Msida, elevated from street level and with access by an external stairs, free and unencumbered and free from any ground rents. The maisonette is bounded on the South East with the said street, on the east by the common parts of the block and on the west by property of the brothers Gerada. This property is free and unencumbered and valued at €185,000. Garage on a semi-basement level internally marked numbered 2, forming part of a complex of garages, without number and without name, in Triq ta' Victor Denaro, Msida, with a separate entrance situated on the right of the Victoria Court block with a common access with other garages in the same level. The garage is valued at €25,000. 31 st October, 2019 11.00am 20/19 - JGL Bank of Valletta plc (C2833) vs Cassar Wayne (ID75878M) Maisonette on the second floor level, unnumbered and named 'Kimron' overlying block of garages and overlying another maisonette, property of George and Carmen spouses Ciappara or their successors in title which maisonette is situated in Santa Venera in Triq Erbatax ta' Novembru, previously known as Triq Ġdida unnamed previously known as Triq Abela, that abuts to Triq Guze Pace, which maisonette together with another property is build on plot numbered 37, the maisonette has in common with the another property in the same block the drainage and water system with access right from the underlying property for maintenance and repairs. The maisonette is subject to servitude of windows, raining water, drain and drainage pipes, and is subject and enjoys those servitudes resulting from its position. The underlying maisonette has the right to keep television aerial on the roof, water tank with a maximum capacity of 500 lt and a satellite dish of diameter not larger than 1.1m with the right access in case of damage and maintenance in reasonable hours. The said maisonette has independent access from the said street, bounded on the East by the said street, on the South by property of Jason Doublet and on the North by property of "J.B. Group Limited" or more accurate boundaries, free and unencumbered, with all its rights and enjoyments, including its airspace and is valued at €190,000 31 st October, 2019 11.30am 86/16 - EGL Zerafa Olivia (ID282079M) vs Bugeja Yanika Dr et noe Half undivided share of a house numbered 18, in Triq il-Vitorja, Hamrun, free and unencumbered with all its rights and appurtenances as published in contract in the acts of Notary Dr. Tonio Cachia dated 18th February, 1998, valued at €65,000. Further details can be obtained from the website: https://ecourts.gov.mt/onlineservices/JudicialSales The bidders taIDng part in the auction must present their identity card Gaetana Aquilina For the Registrar of Civil Courts and Tribunals International body says 'paper parks' is all Malta has despite having designated 35% of coastline as marine protected area WWF says Malta lagging behind 2020 deadline for coastline rules