Twenty-nine organisations and companies have joined forces to call on the government to enforce proper conduct at sea following multiple reports of people using boats and jet skis to harass dolphins in Maltese waters.
The coalition warned that the repeated disturbance of bottlenose dolphins by boat and jet-ski users is threatening one of Malta’s most important marine wildlife populations.
The appeal follows years of documented incidents involving jet skis, speedboats, private vessels and other recreational watercraft pursuing dolphins in areas where there is a significant overlap between dolphin populations and maritime leisure activity.
Several of these locations fall within, or directly alongside, Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation forming part of the Natura 2000 network.
Despite formal reports having been submitted to the authorities since 2022, the organisations said that no effective enforcement measures have been introduced.
Research conducted by EcoMarine Malta through the DELFISHPAM project found that aquaculture areas serve as critical feeding grounds used daily by a resident community of bottlenose dolphins. The community includes adults, juveniles, calves and newborns.
“These dolphins are not simply passing through our waters—they form a resident community that depends on specific areas, such as the Delimara fish farms, for feeding and social activities,” EcoMarine Malta founder Patrizia Patti said.
“When vessels repeatedly chase, surround or interrupt them, we are forcing them to alter their natural behaviour and expend energy unnecessarily. Over time, repeated disturbance can have serious implications for the wellbeing and survival of this population.”
The organisations warned that disturbing dolphins while they are feeding forces the animals to expend unnecessary energy, disrupts their natural behaviour and may have long-term consequences for the health and survival of the population.
One of the most serious incidents was documented on 22 April 2026, when multiple jet skis pursued a group of approximately 15 to 20 dolphins that were actively feeding near the fish farms.
EcoMarine Malta reported that the jet-ski operators repeatedly chased and intercepted the dolphins. The operators also behaved aggressively towards the research vessel after being asked to stop.
The incident was formally reported to the authorities and supported by video evidence.
The coalition stressed that the harassment of dolphins is not merely an animal-welfare concern but also a potential breach of national, European and international legislation protecting cetaceans.
Bottlenose dolphins are strictly protected under Maltese law, the EU Habitats Directive, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Nature Restoration Regulation, the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area, known as ACCOBAMS, and the Barcelona Convention.
These legal instruments prohibit the deliberate disturbance of protected marine species.
“Malta already has the legal framework needed to protect these animals,” the signatories said. “What has been missing is effective enforcement, public education and clear guidance for sea users.”
The coalition also expressed concern that encounters with dolphins are increasingly being promoted on social media as a tourist attraction, with videos encouraging people using jet skis and private boats to approach the animals closely.
The organisations warned that such practices are incompatible with internationally recognised codes of conduct for observing cetaceans and risk normalising behaviour that is both irresponsible and unlawful.
They are calling for the introduction of a legally binding code of conduct governing interactions with cetaceans, reduced speed limits in areas regularly frequented by dolphins, stronger monitoring and enforcement, mandatory wildlife briefings for jet-ski rental clients, compulsory marine-conservation modules within the nautical licensing curriculum, and a national reporting system for cetacean sightings and wildlife-related incidents.
The organisations also emphasised that Maltese legislation places a legal obligation on the competent authorities to educate the public about protected species and biodiversity.
They argued that improving awareness among recreational sea users and commercial operators is essential to preventing wildlife disturbance before enforcement becomes necessary.
The coalition urged the government to work with scientists, environmental organisations and the maritime sector to protect Malta’s resident dolphin population and ensure that the country’s legal obligations towards protected marine wildlife are properly implemented.
The letter was addressed to Tourism Minister Jo Etienne Abela, Environment Minister Miriam Dalli, Transport Minister Chris Bonett, Fisheries Minister Anton Refalo, Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Welfare Alicia Bugeja Said, and Commissioner for Animal Welfare Elliot Magro.
The organisations which signed the letter include EcoMarine Malta, Moviment Graffitti, the Malta Ranger Unit, Friends of the Earth Malta, Animal Liberation Malta, BirdLife Malta and the Malta Chamber of Scientists among other organisations.
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