'Let's not wait for someone to die'- NGO calls for enforcement of diving areas
Malta Rangers Unit spot several near misses on patrol
The Malta Rangers Unit has called for more enforcement in marine conservation areas over fears that divers could get hit by boats.
“We call on the authorities to increase maritime enforcement urgently. Let's not wait for someone to die,” the e-NGO said in a statement.
Malta has 15 conservation zones around wrecks. In general, vessels not used for diving support or hook line fishing are not allowed in the area. Fishing vessels must also keep a safe distance from wrecks when in the zone.
However, in a statement on Sunday morning, the Malta Sea Ranger Unit said these rules are being ignored and singled out Xatt l-Aħmar in Gozo and Ċirkewwa in Malta as the areas most prone to illegalities.
“Vessels are not only cutting illegally across these areas at high speed, they are also crossing between the shore and Special Marker Buoys, which is of grave safety concern. The speed in itself so close to shore is strictly prohibited everywhere”.
The Rangers said that during a patrol on Saturday they spotted a number of close calls.
“Several near misses of divers at the surface were witnessed and no Enforcement was available. Our Rangers could just document and hold their breaths, hoping that no one would get hit and alert the divers by using emergency whistles”.
As an e-NGO, the Malta Rangers Unit and its marine sister organisation have no enforcement powers. Instead, they document illegalities and pass it on to authorities.
However, in their social media statement, the MRU said that Transport Malta has too few resources at sea.
“Transport Malta Enforcement seemingly only has one vessel and during afternoons our Rangers have been informed that they are at work in the harbours, unable to assist,” they said.