Uncontrolled touristic activity on the beautiful island of Comino is having serious impact on the island’s biodiversity, and environmentalists insist the authorities should not wait any longer to do something about it.

Speaking to The Malta Independent following a TMIS article which looked into the issue of overcrowding, among others, at the Blue Lagoon in Comino, chairperson of Friends of the Earth Malta, Martin Galea de Giovanni said that an influx of day trippers is causing tremendous pressure on the surroundings. 

 “This is also a question of carrying capacity. It is estimated that some 3000 to 5000 visitors land in Comino every single day during the summer peak season and most of the day trippers typically remain within Blue Lagoon and Santa Marija Bay. Comino can only sustain a certain number of visitors and this is not solely an environmental issue but should also be taken from a visitor's experience perspective.”

Asked if the NGO is proposing the introduction of tourist quotas, Mr Galea de Giovanni said that this would be an unpopular decision, but it could help protect the island’s ecology. “There is lack of data at this point, once the data is obtained, this option could be explored. At the same time, there could be other options.”

Mr Galea de Giovanni said that the situation has only been deteriorating over the past summers with authorities closing an eye on the blatant abuses that have now been taking place for the past decade, rather than provide NGOs with active support in order to protect the island and provide visitors with a pleasant experience.

Similarly, Astrid Vella from Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar said that it is high time that the issue of carrying capacity is faced. In comments to this newspaper, she said that the situation at Comino remains shocking even though this scenario has repeated itself every year of late, so one would expect that steps would have been taken.

“The pressure of unlimited numbers is ruining places like Comino; other countries, including neighbouring Italy have imposed limitations on sensitive sites that risk being ruined by the pressure of visitors.  What is holding Malta back? The thought of limiting illegal profits being made by beach operators?”

Astrid Vella insists this lack of enforcement is not limited to the beaches in Comino, Armier or Mellieha. “This manifests itself in every sphere including lack of enforcement of planning and building regulations. If the Authorities can’t control something as basic as the number of sunbeds on Comino, which is a Special Area of Conservation of International Importance, how can the public hope that they will enforce much more technical matters such as safety measures for tall buildings?”