The government and the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) have been urged to explain why the Malta Ranger Unit (MRU) has been excluded from a new management agreement for the Ċirkewwa Marine Park, despite the rangers' record of monitoring illegal activity and helping improve marine life at the site.
In a statement, the Nationalist Party said the MRU had carried out regular monitoring at the marine park and reported illegal activity to the police and other relevant authorities. This included illegal night-time spearfishing, the unlawful placement of fishing nets and boats exceeding speed limits.
According to the PN, the rangers' presence had contributed to a "drastic reduction" in serious illegal activity and an improvement in marine life at Ċirkewwa, one of Malta's most popular shore-diving locations.
The party argued that the MRU's work had benefited not only the marine environment but also Malta's diving industry, describing the protection of the site as an investment in an important tourism niche.
The decision not to renew the MRU's agreement also raised questions in light of recent comments by Tourism Minister Ian Borg in Parliament, in which he identified diving as one of the sectors Malta should strengthen and invest in as part of efforts to attract higher-quality tourism.
The PN said the Professional Diving Schools Association (PDSA), which represents the majority of diving schools in Malta, had not been consulted about the decision. The association also reportedly remained unclear about who would take responsibility for monitoring and protecting the site once the agreement with the MRU ends at the beginning of September.
The PDSA has praised the work carried out by the rangers, saying their continuous presence had resulted in a substantial improvement in underwater marine life that was evident to divers regularly using the site.
The PN said it was now unclear whether that monitoring would continue and who would be responsible for enforcement at the marine park.
"A protected area cannot be protected on paper alone," the party said, arguing that effective and continuous monitoring, enforcement and cooperation with people with direct experience of the site were essential.
The party called on the government to explain why the MRU agreement was not renewed, identify who would replace the rangers and outline how it would ensure that the progress achieved at Ċirkewwa was maintained.
PN Shadow Ministers Alex Perici Calascione and Mark Anthony Sammut called on the government to reassure the public that there was no undisclosed reason behind the decision.
They highlighted the voluntary nature of the MRU's work and the limited resources available to the rangers, while also referring to previous criticism directed at the unit. They cited an incident shortly after the last general election when a newly elected Labour candidate, now a Parliamentary Secretary, accused the rangers of entering private property without permission - an allegation the PN said had been made without evidence.