User:James Gabarretta/sandbox

Il-Ballut ta' Marsaxlokk

Il-Ballut ta' Marsaxlokk is a salt marsh in the south-eastern town of Marsaxlokk, Malta. It forms part of the Natura 2000 network and it is currently managed by Nature Trust Malta.

History

The site was previously used a hunting reserve and was later awarded environmental protection. It has been managed by Nature Trust Malta through an agreement with the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) since 2018.

Ecology

The area is composed of mostly muddy substrate characterised by a few dredged shallow canals. These canals were deeper in the past but siltation of nearby illegally dumped material resulted in the loss of depth. This effect combined with the loss of a hydrological connection to il-Magħluq ta' Marsaxlokk (the port), resulted in the seasonal desiccation of the canals in the dry period (summer).This has resulted in the loss of the Aphanius fasciatus that used to be found on site.

The area hosts communities of salt marsh vegetation in Malta such as Salicornia sp.; Juncus sp. and Arthrocnenum sp., among others.

Threats

The following represent some of the most salient threats to the area -


 * Coastal erosion
 * Water pollution from runoff
 * Plastic pollution from the bay
 * Compromised hydrological features such as connection to the sea
 * Trampling of vegetation
 * Light pollution
 * Invasive alien species