Continuous illegalities around Malta’s beaches and coastline have caused concern for Malta’s Environment NGOs, which have now launched a petition to try and encourage harsher enforcement to protect these public areas.

The petition reads; “The Maltese Constitution pledges ‘the State shall safeguard the landscape.’  MEPA’s mission includes: ‘Within the designated natural coastal areas...no urban development will be permitted’”.

“In spite of all this, uncontrolled development is taking over as hotel beach concessions, illegal boathouses, kiosks, bars and restaurants encroach beaches, public coastal zones and promenades.  Our popular beaches are becoming privatized with little space left for the public. Restaurants occupy promenades, roads and even uproot public trees to place their tables and chairs.  Fishfarms already pollute our bays. Land reclamation projects threaten our marine ecology and scuba diving tourism”.

“Your signature can help to get the Authorities to act decisively against usurpation of public rights – YOUR RIGHTS”.

Aside from the obvious boathouses at Armier, other bays are slowly falling prey to illegal camping and the illegal use of boathouses. One prime example would be Mistra bay. Enforcement notices on the MEPA website indicate that certain illegal camping venues can be seen at Mistra.

Speaking with this newsroom, FAA Coordinator Astrid Vella said; “ENGOs assert that occupation of public land by boat houses amounts to land theft, and cannot accept that both governments should tolerate this situation or negotiate with abusers”.

Most of the contraventions at the bay have enforcement notices as read on the MEPA website. One example shows an unknown contravener, who has decided to construct an illegal boat house at Mistra.

One enforcement notice reads; “Parking of caravans/tents and camping activity without permit” and another; “boathouse without a permit”. The boathouse was slammed with an enforcement order in 2011 and is currently pending direct action.

Beaches in Malta are often the centre of illegalities, with certain people opting to open illegitimate businesses on site, establishing boat houses and illegal camping.

Other enforcement notices which came to light recently include the illegal restaurants at Mgarr ix-Xini beach and Munchies in Golden Bay,

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis had previously condemned illegal restaurants and said; ““My position is clear, those businesses that operate illegally will not receive my support or that of the Prime Minister”.