Over 100 tonnes of sea algae has already been collected from bays all around Malta ahead of the summer season, Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Protection Deo Debattista announced this morning.

Speaking on a site visit at Ghadira Bay, Debattista explained that the procedure had begun later this year on 15 April, following an Environment Resources Authority recommendation, which he stressed was vital to safeguarding Maltese bays.

The sea algae is a natural fertiliser and will be provided to farmers, while some of it will go to waste disposal.

Debattista said that there had been a significant investment on better machinery to maintain these sites and that he expected all the works to be completed by 1 June.

The number of sea algae was a record amount this year, to which director for the government's cleaning services Ramon Deguara said was likely due to an increase in temperature.