BirdLife Malta has welcomed the official implementation of the Mediterranean Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA), which comes into force today, 1st May 2025. This major environmental milestone aims to reduce harmful sulphur emissions from ships, improving air quality and public health across the region – particularly in coastal communities like Malta.
Under SECA regulations, ships must now use cleaner fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.10%, a sharp drop from the previous 0.50% limit. This change is expected to cut sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions by nearly 80% and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 25%, helping prevent at least 1,000 premature deaths and 2,000 childhood asthma cases each year.
Given Malta’s strategic maritime location and its role as the EU’s largest shipping registry, the new rules will impact hundreds of ships passing through or calling at Maltese ports. BirdLife Malta, which has campaigned for SECA since 2016, now calls for a Nitrogen Oxide Emission Control Area (NECA) to further curb ship-related air pollution and align with EU health standards.
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