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7 JAMES DEBONO DOLPHINS may have adorned Malta's first post-independence coat of arms but statistical in- formation on their actual num- bers in Maltese waters has been sketchy. Some new light on numbers has been cast by Malta's final re- port for the EU's Marine Strat- egy Framework Directive, which suggests their population is sta- ble. Systematic surveys confirm the regular presence of the bot- tlenose dolphin (Tursiops trun- cates) in Maltese waters, whose total population in 2014 ranged from 79 to 224, with 79 consid- ered more realistic figure. The estimate was based on photo identification of marked individ- ual dolphins, covering 780 hours out at sea to monitor almost 6,000 kilometres square of water over two years. Based on 59 sightings of pods of bottlenose dolphins between 2013 and 2016, it is believed the mammal is widely distributed in Maltese waters with sightings being more common off the southern and western coasts. The maximum number ob- served in pods ranged between 10 and 40, with a median of 12 individuals, again a sign of a sta- ble size. Two other dolphins, the short beaked common dolphin and the striped dolphin, also frequent Maltese waters. Between 2013 and 2016, 35 sightings of the common dolphin were recorded, mostly in the southwestern part of Malta. The striped dolphin was observed in 22 sightings. Other marine mammal spe- cies like sperm whales were al- so observed, occasionally. Ris- so dolphins were sighted four times between June and July of 2016, while sperm whales were recorded five times in August 2013, south of Filfa. No by-catch of marine mam- mals by fishermen has been re- corded during 2013-2018, cor- roborating claims in previous reports to the EU that Maltese fishing methods are not a signif- icant threat to cetaceans. But the report raises the possi- bility of under-reporting. In light of this, the fisheries department is launching a pilot study for on- board observations to log accu- rate data on species that are inci- dentally caught. Marine litter, underwater noise and maritime traffic, including collision and pollution impacts, remain potential pressures on marine mammals. A Conser- vation Plan for the loggerhead turtle and the bottlenose dol- phin in Maltese waters is set to address these pressures. But as regards noise, the report identi- fies a need for more data before implementing targeted manage- ment measures. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 APRIL 2020 CORONAVIRUS CRISIS 12 th April 2020 European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development 2014-2020 PRE – ANNOUNCEMENT (Measure 3.2) Measure 3.2: 'Support for information & promotion activities implemented by group of producers in the internal market' The Director General of the Funds and Programmes Division, within the Parliamentary Secretariat for European Funds announces the Pre-Launch of the first call of measure 3.2 under the Rural Development Programme. Applications will open on the 13 th of April 2020 and shall remain open until the entire budgetary allocation under the Information and Promotion of Quality Schemes Measure is utilised or by Friday 30th October 2020 (unless the MA notifies otherwise). Measure 3.2 'Support for information & promotion activities implemented by group of producers in the internal market' has the aim to support activities of information and promotion of quality schemes both local and those established EU-wide. Groups of Producers Producer Organizations, inter-branch organizations or other type of legal entity groups are eligible for support under this measure. Beneficiaries will receive 70% of the total eligible project costs. Further details on the application process will be published in due course on the websites of the Managing Authority www.eufunds.gov.mt and www.eufundsmalta.gov.mt. For more information, the Managing Authority can be contacted on rdd.mfea@gov.mt or 2200 1108. ANNOUNCEMENT (Measure 3.1) Measure 3.1: Support for new participation in Quality Schemes The Managing Authority would like to announce that the final batch of applications under Measure 3.1 will be received until the 12 th June 2020. Unless otherwise notified, no applications will be received after this date. the Commissioner for Educa- tion concluded that one major source of the problem which impedes children with dyslexia from continuing their studies is the nature of the Maltese SEC paper. "If the exam paper were to be restructured to emphasise more the communicative and less the linguistic aspect of the subject, Maltese will not present the obstacles it currently does, even if the literature section is retained." In representations made to the Ombudsman in 2017, parents of students suffering from dyslexia also felt particularly aggrieved that their children – like all other candidates – are allowed spell- ing mistakes in most subjects, but are penalized for spelling mistakes in languages when it is a well-known fact that dyslexia sufferers are extremely prone to spelling deficiencies. Statistics also show that while 13.8% of male candidates ap- plied for examination access ar- rangements, only 8.4% of female candidates did so. In 2019, 593 candidates were given examination access ar- rangements which is equivalent to 10.8% of all registrations. This represents a sharp increase from just 1.6% in 2004. The percentage of applications for EAAs varies between sub- jects. A total of 213 registrations were from candidates studying a vocational subject, making up 24.1% of the vocational candi- date population. Subjects with relatively large percentage applications of can- didates with access arrange- ments are hospitality (32.6%), health and social care (22.6%), music (21.7%), information technology (21.6%), textiles and design (19.2%), home economics (18.4%), art (18.0%), agribusiness (18.0%), and engineering tech- nology (16.0%). Applications by candidates with special needs are processed by the ACCESS Disability Sup- port Committee of the Univer- sity of Malta, which decides on appropriate arrangements so that these candidates are ena- bled to take the examinations while being, as much as possible, on par with other candidates. In 2019, examination access ar- rangements (EAAs) included ex- tra time, rest periods, modified papers, large print, provision of amanuenses, communicators and readers, as well as special instructions to examiners of oral components, invigilators and paper markers. Malta's bottlenose dolphin population estimated at 79 No dolphins accidentally caught by fishermen, official statistics say