More boats than sea is another factor that makes the Blue Lagoon in Comino overcrowded It appears that those who attempt to avoid the crowds by going with their private boat are still finding it hard to enjoy the serenity the island once offered. 

Boat owners are complaining at the fact that Blue Lagoon is literally being taken over by commercial cruises. According to some boat owners who spoke to The Malta Independent when they decide to berth at the Blue Lagoon for their short stay close to the island, most of the time they are asked by the commercial cruises captains to move over as they needed to occupy the space. 

Other boat owners complain at how huge vessels are allowed to enter so close to the bay and how they will oblige other small boats to move so that they can manoeuvre the vessel properly. 

“An accident is bound to happen very soon”, one owner said. 

Loud music which most of these vessels play also disturbs those who wish to enjoy the natural beauty of the crystal clear waters of Blue Lagoon while the excessive number of boats pollutes the water. 

The Malta Independent on Sunday had revealed, through an investigation that it did on the island of Comino, how the problem of overcrowding, as well as overpricing in Blue Lagoon is diminishing the natural beauty of the island.

Those who participated in a discussion on Boating Malta Facebook group, which was triggered by the story, are calling upon the authorities to set up an official boating committee to safeguard the rights of boat owners. Others suggest other forms of formal representation, such as the setting up of an organisation. 

Environmental NGOs such as Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar and Friends of the Earth Malta have suggested the introduction of carrying capacity limitations so as to safeguard the biodiversity and ecology of the island.

Speaking to this newsroom, FAA and FEA agreed that the uncontrolled arrival of tourists to the island is causing huge pressure on the surroundings.

These two E-NGOs are not proposing anything which is out of this world. In fact, such proposals were specifically mentioned in the Natura 2000 Management Plan for Comino which clearly establishes that one major Operational Objective is to prepare and implement a tourism carrying capacity assessment of the Blue Lagoon and provide recommendations for management. 

In one of the objectives highlighted by the Natura 2000 report suggests the avoidance of “overprovision of coastal facilities”. Authorities are also encouraged to channel the demand for the provision of coastal facilities and premises (re-the development of watersport activities such as sailing or canoeing) towards coastal areas that are already developed or committed with such facilities.