Marine conservation data

Explore data on marine habitats, species, water quality and protected areas to better understand the condition of Malta’s marine environment.

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Marine protected areas

Marine protected area coverage

More than 35% of Malta’s Fisheries Management Zone

Marine Natura 2000 sites

18 sites

Marine Natura 2000 network

4,138 km²

Marine protected area designations

10 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and 8 Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

Marine biodiversity and protected habitats

Posidonia oceanica beds

EU-protected priority habitat

Other protected marine habitats

Reefs, caves and sandbanks

Protected marine species include

Loggerhead turtle, bottlenose dolphin and Maltese topshell

Protected seabirds include

Scopoli’s shearwater, Yelkouan shearwater and Mediterranean storm-petrel

Marine water quality

Bathing waters monitored

87 sites (2025)

Bathing waters rated excellent

77 sites (88.5%) (2025)

Bathing waters rated good

8 sites (9.2%) (2025)

Bathing waters rated sufficient

2 sites (2.3%) (2025)

Bathing waters rated poor

2 sites (2.3%) (2025)

Verify the data

The indicators presented on this page are compiled from recognised national and international sources, including Malta’s Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA).
Figures are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication but may be revised by the original data providers as information is updated.

Greening Malta aims to make marine and environmental data accessible and transparent. Users are encouraged to explore the original source documents below for more detailed information.

Data sources used

Data note

Marine conservation indicators may vary between sources depending on the reporting year, assessment methodology, designation status and updates to Malta’s protected-area network.

Marine protected area coverage refers to Malta’s Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ), while the number of Natura 2000 sites refers to individual designated sites. These are different indicators and should not be treated as interchangeable.

Find out more

Malta's marine Natura 2000 network and protected areas →

Official framework detailing Malta's 18 marine Natura 2000 sites, conservation objectives, and management measures for protected habitats and species.