<a href='https://ads.independent.com.mt/www/delivery/ck.php?n=afef72b0&cb=210' target='_blank'><img data-src='https://ads.independent.com.mt/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=22&cb=210&n=afef72b0' border='0' alt='' /></a>The Ċirkewwa Marine Park Management Plan has officially been launched, introducing a framework aimed at turning Malta's first marine park from a legal designation into an actively managed protected area through zoning, monitoring, coordinated enforcement and conservation measures, a government statement said. Ministers, officials and representatives of the entities involved travelled by boat along Malta's northern coastline, passing the St Paul's Islands, recently designated as a Special Protection Area, and the surrounding cliffs before arriving at the Ċirkewwa Marine Park. Environment Minister Miriam Dalli said protecting a marine area "cannot stop at drawing boundaries on a map", adding that the management plan "turns protection into action" through clear measures, shared responsibilities and continued monitoring. Tourism Minister Jo Etienne Abela described the marine park as an example of how environmental protection and tourism could work together, saying the sea is one of Malta's greatest assets and should be safeguarded responsibly. Malta Tourism Authority deputy chief executive and director of product development Kevin Fsadni said the marine park represented "a forward-looking approach to tourism management", combining conservation, scientific research, education and responsible recreation.