Marsascala residents are urging the Prime Minister to take a definitive stand against the idea of a marina in the locality.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Robert Abela, made public Tuesday, Secretary of the Marsascala Residents Network (MRN) Ivan Sammut said that the association gladly welcomed the judgement of the Court of Appeals on 1 August, which turned down plans for development in Hondoq ir-Rummien.

MRN thanked the Mayor of Qala Paul Buttigieg for his contributions. MRN said that they also welcome the promise to initiate a change in the planning laws to ensure peace of mind for Gozitans and Maltese that Hondoq ir-Rummien will not be developed.

With that in mind, the MRN stated in their letter that they are requesting an initiative to begin changing the laws regarding the planning for Marsascala beach.

MRN said that on the 11 August, 2021, Transport Malta had issued a pre-qualification questionnaire to begin carrying out submissions for the development of a yacht marina in the Marsascala bay.

A number of residents, NGOs, Maltese, Gozitan, and foreigners from the surrounding area opposed this development for various reasons, which were listed within the letter.

A yacht marina would create pollution in the bay which would compromise the quality of Maghluq’s brackish water, a Natura 2000 site which contains two types of protected habitat, the national fish ‘buzaqq’ which is also protected, as well as an endangered species of eel.

This pollution, along with the infrastructure of the yacht marina, would lead to the destruction of the pastures of posidonia oceanica which resides in the bay and is also a protected habitat.

The yacht marina would present a threat to the flourishing economic activities in Marsascala, especially those related to fishing and coastal tourism, the letter continued.

The yacht marina would have a negative social impact due to the effect it would have on the beach and the surrounding promenade, which is where many residents participate in most of their personal, social, sporting and cultural activities. It would change the fabric of their life.

The yacht marina was not going to help the country in its transition to a blue sustainable economy in any way, the association said

MRN said that with all these points in mind, the Marsascala beach should never have been considered as a destination for a yacht marina.

On 23 February 2022, the Prime Minister had announced a permanent cessation of the marina process in Marsascala and promised that the development would be excluded categorically. This news was received favourably due to the overall negative impact the project would have, said MRN.

MRN concluded: “In light of all this, we are asking you that in the case of Marsascala beach, you permanently ensure the peace of mind of our residents and all those who hold this beach dearly by starting the process so that the beach is no longer identified as a place where a yacht marina can be built, and everything possible will be done to guarantee that the beach and all the life it contains and officers is safeguarded and protected.”