It was a Saturday with a difference for a sizeable group of Bank of Valletta employees, who together with their family members, visited the Aquaculture Directorate Malta at Fort San Lucjan to take a closer look at the Killifish Conservation project earlier this month.

Bank of Valletta had supported the Killifish Conservation Project, which was launched last year by Nature Trust Malta (NTM) and the Aquaculture Directorate Malta. This project seeks to ensure the longevity of the killifish population. Better known by its Maltese name, ­il-bużaqq, this is a small fish endemic to the Mediterranean, found primarily around islands like Sicily, Corsica and Malta.

Ray Caruana from the Aquaculture Directorate Malta and Mr Vince Attard CEO of Nature Trust welcomed the BOV team. They were given a walkthrough of the individual painstaking stages of the project that seeks to ensure that this species does not remain endangered.

"Until a few years ago, the killifish was found at Il-Magħluq (Marsaskala) and Il-Ballut in Marsaxlokk. Over time, we observed heavy decline in the stocks at both sites, with the population at Il-Magħluq being completely wiped out," explained Mr Caruana. "A small population from Il-Ballut was taken to Il-Magħluq by NTM volunteers during the 1990s to restart the population there. They succeeded but in the meantime conditions at Il-Ballut did not improve and the Marsaxlokk population faced extinction.  Today, the habitat of Il-Magħluq is rather poor with many negative pressures including dumping and severe pollution which has led to the decline in numbers of the killifish in this area too."

The group had the opportunity to visit the Laboratory where the breeding tanks are set up. They were also given an overview of other projects that are underway, such as the breeding of other species like the popular spnotta. One of the highlights of the event was a visit to the area where a number of sea turtles are being treated for injuries sustained. They are treated here until they are fully recovered, before these are certified fit enough to be released in the open sea.

Feedback received from those who attended was very positive. "Bank of Valletta holds its role in the community in high regard, particularly vis-a-vis the green stakeholder. Supporting NGOs who are driving projects such is the Killifish Conservation Project is only part of our involvement," explained Mark Marmara, Manager responsible for the implementation of green initiatives within Bank of Valletta. "We feel it is equally important to raise awareness. Initiatives like this one, gives us the opportunity to show our people what projects we are involved in as an organisation, whilst at the same time, generating more awareness and getting them involved."