The Malta Aquaculture Research Center

The environment is all that surrounds us and it is thus the place where we exist and live. However, since humans are terrestrial organisms, when the word “environment” is mentioned, the marine environment doesn’t usually come to mind. My biology site visit, at secondary level, was at the M.A.R.C and it was there that my eyes were opened to the continuous and laborious work that takes place in the background, away from all public knowledge. Hence, I decided to take on this project so as to learn into further depth what takes place at such centers and how such centers aim at trying to combat unsustainable fishing by trying to produce fish on a commercial scale. The rearing of fish is no easy task and thus this project aims at analyzing how the health of the fish is kept in check. This is done for example through performing both physical (through the use of instruments) and chemical tests so as to check temperature levels, oxygen concentrations etc… so as to make sure that a constant ideal environment for the fish is kept. Growth is monitored through sample weights while the health of adult fish is monitored through the quality of their eggs. To prevent natural selection from occurring i.e. the bigger fish being advantaged over the smaller fish, a process known as grading takes place where fish are separated into different tanks according to their respective weight. I didn’t have the opportunity to observe this process since it took place during school hours. The M.A.R.C is also known for its turtle rehabilitation center where injured turtles are brought to the center so they can be restored back to their health. Thus, it is quite clear that every activity that takes place within the center is one way or another linked to science a...

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.... Injured turtles are brought to the M.A.R.C, where they are examined and a treatment by a veterinary doctor is administered. At the M.A.R.C, the progress of the turtles is monitored and before they are released into the wild they are measured and tagged. Sea turtles still face severe threats due to loss of nesting habitats where coastal development, predation of nests and human disturbance disorientate the hatchlings. Incidental captures in fisheries and pollution have also played a significant role in population declines of the turtles.

Altogether this project has opened my eyes to the numerous projects that Malta is involved in and how the foundations of such aquacultures are built through basic knowledge of Biology. This goes to show that sustainability isn’t an impossible dream but can be easily be achieved through appropriate thinking and collaborative work.