The Biological Conservation Research Foundation (BICREF) has advocated the importance of and urgency for marine conservation areas around the Maltese Islands. In their correspondence with both MEPA and the Ministry for the environment, BICREF has made its extensive local experience in both offshore and coastal marine work available toward the necessary holistic judgement on the appropriateness of the locations for such areas and the long-term management requirements for conservation to be effective.

BICREF has taken this necessary step in the light of its long-term marine surveys and projects, together with the support and interest shown by the many thousands of individuals who have forwarded their signatures and personal ID numbers toward the Planet Sea - BICREF Save Our Seas campaign. The increasing local realization of the need for a properly selected, monitored and managed marine conservation area can no longer be ignored.

BICREF has consistently been at the fore on matters concerning the local marine environment. Through its efforts it has increased public awareness on the impacts of various marine activities and developments including: the tuna penning development and the lack of proper assessments; the Mgarr ix-Xini bay alteration in Gozo; and the over-exploitation of marine resources around the Maltese coasts. However equally important are the efforts that BICREF have put into increasing awareness on the real meaning and applications of ecotourism; the requirement of effective protection of marine biodiversity including both offshore and coastal organisms.

On account of BICREF's heavy involvement in marine field work and conservation it expects to be consulted and involved in any local marine conservation issue, especially any work in connection with the planning and management of marine conservation areas. BICREF thus looks forward to constructive communications with the MEPA and Ministry in the near future.

BICREF thanks the various local sponsors and organisations that assist its conservation work. BICREF is an environmental voluntary NGO that promotes scientific conservation research and awareness with particular focus on the marine ecosystem. It is open to any person ready to dedicate effort toward this cause.

Anyone wishing to contact BICREF on this or any other environmental issue may do so by writing to BICREF, PO Box 30 Hamrun.