The Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change (MSDEC) is part of the Government of Malta, and the Competent Authority responsible for the designation of Natura 2000 sites. MEPA, as the environment authority, identifies and proposes sites to the MTCE for consideration. Once approved, these sites are put forward for approval by Parliament through MSDEC.
As a result of the data collected through Actions A.1, A.2, and A.3, in the final year the project hopes to be in a position to identify sites which could be proposed to the Maltese Government (through MSDEC) for consideration as pSCIs for Tursiops truncatus and Caretta caretta. The results will include maps of the proposed pSCIs and data pertaining to species and habitats of importance relevant to the areas proposed.
As an associated beneficiary in this project, the MTCE will be closely involved in the entire process of identification of marine Natura 2000 sites for Tursiops truncatus and Caretta caretta. This is therefore expected to considerably shorten the period of time between proposal of the sites to MTCE to their approval and submission to Parliament.
Nonetheless, the project includes a 6-month contingency to allow the Maltese Government enough time to designate the areas identified as pSCIs.