Chapter 479 – Fishing Waters (Designation) and Extended Maritime Jurisdiction Act

What is this act about?

Din il-liġi tippermetti lill-Prim Ministru jinnomina żoni tal-baħar bħala "ilmijiet tas-sajd" ta' Malta u jestendi l-ġurisdizzjoni marittima tal-pajjiż. Dan isir biex Malta tkun tista' tesplora, tisfrutta, tikkonserva u tmexxi r-riżorsi naturali f'dawn l-ilmijiet.

Who it applies to: Il-Prim Ministru, li jista' joħroġ ordnijiet biex jiddeskrivi dawn iż-żoni u jestendi l-ġurisdizzjoni; Kull min hu involut fl-esplorazzjoni, sfruttament, konservazzjoni u ġestjoni tar-riżorsi naturali fl-ilmijiet magħżula.

At a glance

Country: Malta
Area of law: Environment and agriculture
Source: legislation.mt
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

Id-denominazzjoni ta' żoni tal-baħar bħala ilmijiet tas-sajd ta' Malta.
L-eżerċizzju ta' drittijiet sovrani fuq ir-riżorsi naturali ħajjin u/jew mhux ħajjin f'dawn l-ilmijiet.
L-istabbiliment u l-użu ta' gżejjer artifiċjali, installazzjonijiet u strutturi lil hinn mill-ilmijiet territorjali.
Ir-riċerka xjentifika marina u l-protezzjoni tal-ambjent marittimu lil hinn mill-ilmijiet territorjali.

Who does this act apply to?

Il-Prim Ministru, li jista' joħroġ ordnijiet biex jiddeskrivi dawn iż-żoni u jestendi l-ġurisdizzjoni.
Kull min hu involut fl-esplorazzjoni, sfruttament, konservazzjoni u ġestjoni tar-riżorsi naturali fl-ilmijiet magħżula.

What are the key points?

Il-Prim Ministru jista' jiddikjara drittijiet sovrani għal Malta fuq żoni speċifiċi tal-baħar lil hinn mil-limiti tal-ilmijiet territorjali.
Dawn iż-żoni magħżula jsiru parti mill-"ilmijiet tas-sajd" ta' Malta.
Il-Prim Ministru jista' wkoll jestendi l-ġurisdizzjoni ta' Malta lil hinn mill-ilmijiet territorjali għal skopijiet bħall-gżejjer artifiċjali, riċerka xjentifika marina, u protezzjoni tal-ambjent marittimu.
Kull ordni maħruġa tista' tinkludi termini jew kundizzjonijiet li l-Prim Ministru jidhirlu xierqa.

Environment and agriculture

Chapter 199 – Agricultural Leases (Reletting) Act

Chapter 448 – Administration of Lands Act

Chapter 432 – Reversion of Certain Lands Act

Chapter 435 – Environment Protection Act

Chapter 549 – Environment Protection Act

Chapter 146 – Agriculture and Fishing Industries (Financial Assistance) Act

Chapter 13 – Commercial Code

Chapter 308 – Partition of Inheritances Act

Environment and agriculture

Legal text

FISHING WATERS (DESIGNATION) AND EXTENDED MARITIME JURISDICTION

CHAPTER 479

FISHING WATERS (DESIGNATION) AND EXTENDED MARITIME JURISDICTION ACT To make special provision for the designation of fishing waters and the extension of maritime jurisdiction.

26th July, 2005 Act X of 2005.

The short title of this Act is the Fishing Waters (Designation) and Extended Maritime Jurisdiction Act.

Short title.

2.(1) Subject to the provisions of subarticle (2), the Prime Minister may by Order published in the Gazette claim sovereign rights for Malta, for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the living and, or non-living natural resources therein, over such areas of the marine waters beyond the limits laid down in article 3(2) of the Territorial Waters and Contiguous Zone Act as may be designated in the Order and thereupon the areas so designated shall constitute part of the fishing waters of Malta as provided in article 3(c) of the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act.

Sovereign rights over designated fishing waters.

(2)The Prime Minister may also by Order published in the Gazette provide for the exercise of jurisdiction beyond the territorial waters of Malta with regard to (a) the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations and structures; (b) marine scientific research; and (c) the protection and preservation of the maritime environment.

(3)Any Order made under this article may contain any such terms or conditions as the Prime Minister may deem appropriate.

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.