Environment Minister Jose Herrera announced today that an emergency conservation order has been issued for the Azure Window site, and anyone walking on top of the structure, or the area by the sea below will be fined.

The order published by the ERA, states that nobody, without ERA permission should access, walk, abseil, climb or jump off the Window, or access the sea area underneath it.

Recently a video of a man jumping off the window hit the media, and showed a rock also falling off.

The order is valid for six months, the minister said, explaining that in this time, government will need to change some laws to allow for permanent conservation orders and on the spot fines.

Currently, fines can only be dished out in court, and breaching a conservation order will result in a minimum €1,500 fine, and could even result in imprisonment.

He also explained that the Committee looking into the conservation of Dwejra, led by Dr Timmy Gambin, received a number of reports by experts relating to the Azure Window, and based off of these is compiling its own report which the committee will present to the Environment, Gozo and Tourism Ministries.  In turn, the ministries will in the coming weeks   co-announce what kind of enforcement will be used on site, however one idea floating around is the idea of a park ranger.

Wooden bollards will be placed around the invisible boundary informing people that walking beyond that point is an offence.

In addition, the minister was asked about Natura 2000 sites being used in film productions etc, to which he said that they would need to follow very strict guidelines.