CIRKEWWA OFFERS A RICH AND DIVERSE RANGE OF MARINE LIFE, YOUR CO-OPERATION IN PROTECTING THIS AREA FOR FUTURE ENJOYMENT WOULD BE EXTREMELY VALUABLE.
PLEASE ADOPT RESPONSIBLE DIVE PRACTICES TO AVOID DAMAGING MARINE LIFE BY:
* Ensuring that you... are in good control of your buoyancy at all times, and avoid using rocks as ballast as they are living reefs
* Avoid excessive finning in close proximity to the reef as it can dislodge and damage life.
* Keep your equipment secured and streamlined
PLEASE ADOPT A RESPECTFUL AND PASSIVE APPROACH TO MARINE LIFE:
* Do not harass flora or fauna
* Do not collect souvenirs (dead or alive)
* Whenever possible avoid swimming under overhangs as bubbles can damage delicate coral growth, including star corals (Astroides calycularis) which are a protected species.
* Avoid entering areas of wrecks where squid eggs hang as bad buoyancy or bubbles can dislodge these
* Do not remove octopus from their dens as they may be protecting eggs
* When swimming over sand take care to not stir up the environment as sand are living habitats
* Dive boats should try to not anchor too close to wrecks as they may damage unique sea grass beds, or on Posidonia Meadows as they are akeystone species in housing ecosystems and are also a protected species.
* Do not damage urchins, as the rock sea urchin and the Needle-Spined Urchin (Cetrostephanus longispinus) are protected species
* Do not spearfish, especially with aqua lung as it is illegal
* Do not leave any litter in the sea or surrounding area, please use bins provided
We will also be asking MEPA, the TRANSPORT AUTHORITY, FISHERIES to do there part and ensure that the police presence at the Cirkewwa terminal, roster in regular foot patrols as a deterrent to illegal fishing.
