Action was taken by the Environment Resource Authority’s Compliance and Enforcement Directorate on Santa Marija Bay Area in Comino, to clean the debris pertaining to camping activities, and also halted camping activities in this area, the ERA said in a statement.

Such activities adversely impact on the integrity of this Special Area of Conservation, and were not covered by the required ERA permits. The halting of camping activities in the Santa Marija Bay area and its eventual reinstatement is in line with the approved Management Plan for Comino and its surrounding islets.

ERA’s Compliance and Enforcement Directorate intervened directly noting that the perpetrator remained unknown throughout the investigations, and also took action to clean Santa Marija Bay. All camping related equipment and litter that was present on site was dismantled and taken away.

Fire-pits present in the area were also dismantled. Over one tonne of material ranging from tents, poles, crockery and bedding, to tanks and sinks was collected and transported to Gozo by means of licensed waste carriers and adequately disposed of. This action was taken following the issuance of a stop and compliance order on December 2018 for unpermitted camping and barbecuing activities.