Page 82 - Fishery_Regimes_2005

EMPAFISH Booklet nº 2 Fishery regimes in Atlanto-Mediterranean European MPAs

MPA: 25NM Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ)
around Malta

Location: 35º 56'N 14º 20º E
Country: Malta (Central Mediterranean)
Coastal/Island: Island (mixed inshore/offshore)
Total size: 1,070,000 ha
Integral size: -
Year of establishment: As Exclusive Fishing Zone (EFZ) (1971),
and as Fisheries Management Zone
(FMZ) following EU accession (2004)
Depth range: 0 - 1,200 m
Protection objectives: Fisheries conservation; conservation of
benthic ecosystems supporting fisheries
Type of MPA: Partial
Habitats: Sandbanks, reefs, Posidonia oceanica
beds, Large shallow inlets and bays,
Offshore habitats including open water,
and various types of sedimentary
bottoms.
Socio-economic activities: Fishing, maritime activities, all types of
inshore aquatic activities

Activities 3 Nautical mile 12 Nautical mile 25 Nautical mile
limit limit limit
Forbidden Trawling
Restricted Fishing, Angling Fishing, Angling Fishing, Angling
Trawling Trawling
Allowed

Description of the fisheries in and around the MPA:

The key aim of the Malta Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) is to
protect the fisheries resources of Malta’s sea area and the ecosystems
on which they depend. During the accession negotiations with the EU,
Malta presented to the EU a number of studies which showed the
negative effects that purse-seining and industrial long-lining (two very
intensive fishing methods), as practised by EU fishers, would have in
the Maltese EFZ area if this was opened up to these fishery types. The
EU recognized the conflict that exists between these intensive fishing
methods and the less intensive passive fishing operations practised to
date by the Maltese fishing fleet. For this reason, the EU agreed that
when Malta would become a member state, sustainable fishing in the
previous EFZ would be safeguarded through the setting up of a
Fisheries Management Zone and the implementation of a variety of
management actions. Thus, the Malta FMZ in effect functions as a

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