Date: 22/10/2004
Issued On: 22/10/2004

ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION REQUIRES CONSTRUCTIVE AND FEASIBLE STRATEGIES WHICH AID MALTA’S COMPETITIVENESS

“Natural preservation, the restraint of ecological wounds and a sustained coastal management should not be subject to bureaucratic practices giving little breathing space to pertinent industrial development, but instead built upon constructive and feasible strategies, parting away from clear cut, and at times inconceivable assessments.”

This was underlined by the Hon. Censu Galea, Minister for Competitiveness and Communications who added that Government has throughout the years succeeded in progressing and maintaining an environmental orientated political strategy. “Whilst favourably noting the substantial progress achieved in harmonising the concepts of development and the environment, I maintain that significant bodies leading a prominent role within our country’s development could better implement their policies by advising industry and entrepreneurs since the first stages of discussions, bearing as a result the avoidance of unbearable delays besides useless studies, reports and expenses.”

The Minister was delivering the closing address at the first International Conference on the Management of Coastal Recreational Resources. The conference was organised by the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Insular Coastal Dynamics of the Foundation for International Studies within the University of Malta.

It comes natural to Malta, that with one of its main resources being the sea, it utilises this maritime edge to domestic benefit and markets its natural coastal attractions to the various sectors of economy. Nations around the Mediterranean coast are fast developing their geographical coastlines and resources in order to attract further investments in recreational and infrastructural tourist facilities together with other novel and modern attractions. It is quite logical that a policy of sustainable infrastructural development has to be pursued to enhance the attraction of investment, ensuring its competitiveness and guaranteeing for itself an on-going prosperity built upon social and economic growth.

The Minister highlighted that about 80% of Mediterranean marine traffic pass through the Malta-Sicily channel whilst 25% of all the world’s oil transits the Mediterranean sea, therefore envisaging that Malta has to be fully prepared if a major oil spill had to occur. “Within this context my Ministry has set up an oil pollution working committee composed of the main representatives relevant to the issue stepping up cooperation to ensure that in case of an emergency the situation would be dealt with in a fast and efficient manner.”

Referring to shipping accidents, Mr Galea pointed out that the effect of media coverage is a long-lasting one, advancing the perception that the shipping industry is a threat to coastal and marine environments. “This is not the case as whilst shipping provides a crucial dialy link for maritime centres around the world, without obliterating the consequences, accidents are not the order of the day.”
He also underlined the full occupancy within yacht marinas in Malta, and Government’s plans to develop another witin the northern region of the Island. “A working group has been set-up between the Malta Maritime Authority and MEPA to facilitate coordination on relevant issues and to ensure that the area retrieves the best social and economic benefits from the project, limiting as much as possible environmental implications. This is our lasting commitment: that in the course of developing sound infrastructures and capital or secondary maritime projects for the country, the commitment to a healthy environment is sustained,” said the Minister.
Also stressed upon were issues related to the cruise liner sector witnessing the ascendancy of the port of Valletta as a major port of call for cruise liners in the Mediterranean and an additional component to our economic viability underlining that “In doing so, here too, we have ensured that tthe consortium undertaking the management of the cruise liner terminal, embarks on a regeneration of the area, positively contributing to environmental and aesthetic improvements.”

In his final remarks Minister Censu Galea spoke about the nomination of Dr. Joe Borg to the post of Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs putting at the forefront issues relevant to Mediterranean, and European maritime issues, with particular reference to coastal management vis-à-vis the development of recreational resources, in the many forms it may present itself. He also made reference to the concept of the ‘common heritage of mankind’ advanced by Arvid Pardo, Malta’s first Permanent Representative at the United Nations in that there existed an area of the seabed which is beyond national jurisdiction; that this area and its resources were a common heritage of mankind and that all questions relating to the marine environment were interconnected.
“Indeed the marine environment is a heritage entrusted to us by our forefathers for which we bear the responsibility, and which we have to pass on to the future generations. I indeed augur that through a collective effort we shall succeed in securing a limited environmental stress complimented by a much sustainable development, for the years to come,” concluded the Minister.