Project title: Bombs to Batoids: Filfla Nature Reserve at 35 – Legacy and state of the first Maltese
Nature Reserve
Main STEM field of focus: Life Sciences
The fundamental aim of this project is to examine the current underwater ecological status of the
Filfla Nature Reserve, compare the current circumstances to the past and present the findings to the
wider public.
The community-need element arises from a greater focus in Malta regarding the safeguarding of
natural spaces, therefore such a project would also be providing empirical weight through the
gathered data and in the process be of guidance to stakeholders and their strategies when it comes
to planning.
Given the 35th anniversary of the legislation that created the Filfla Nature Reserve, the
implementation of the project feels most timely, with its aim to examine if measures to protect our
natural heritage have worked over the years, and what lessons could be learnt from their first
incarnation moving forwards.
Through this project, it is intended to bring about a renewed interest in protecting our collective
natural marine heritage, but in a broader sense, Shark Lab Malta simply hope to help educate the
Maltese public as to what lives in and around Filfla, in a celebration of our marine biodiversity.
To this end and via Bombs to Batoids, Shark Lab Malta will be returning to the Filfla Nature Reserve,
with all proper permits, and undertake roving diver surveys surrounding the islet. Approximate
indication of how this will take place, will be through: 6 Days of surveys, 2 dive surveys per day, and
up to 20 volunteers in the water, with associated camera equipment, to analyse the habitats around
Filfla, and capture (metaphorically) their floral and faunal communities over the summer of 2023.
Data collected would be collated leading to the creation of a series of reports, a seminar and
an exhibition based upon what was found, comparing the biodiversity of potentially unique flora
and fauna to previous reports surrounding Filfla.
This is to establish the long-term effects of protection of the islet, and what we can learn about
marine spatial planning in Maltese waters moving forwards.
Project Bombs to Batoids could also be seen as helping Malta satisfy one of the Sustainable
Development Goals, namely SDG14 Life Below Water.
