Marine Adventure Park MAP

1
Marine Adventure Park (MAP)

• A Unique Tourist Marine attraction for
• Scuba Divers, Snorkel Divers
• for Rod Fishing competitions.
• Consisting of two
• Enclosed Enhanced Marine Habitats
• for everyone to visit against a fee.

2
Marine Adventure Park - The Idea

• Using the technologies derived from the tuna
  penning industry such as the use of nets how
  to anchor these enclosures out at sea to
  withstand rough weather survive.
• Remove completely the tuna penning operations
  within MAP operations (That is, the fattening of
  a large number of the same fish species to be
  harvested for human consumption is removed).
• Substitute the fish farming operation with that
  of operating a Marine aquarium such as those
  found in other countries.
• Alter the enclosures dress them up making them
  scuba snorkel diver friendly, resembling a
  miniature floating marine theme park, a kind of
  Noahs Ark of some fish species.
• Reduce the Marine aquarium concept, (That is
  there is no need to have so many fish but the
  idea is to make this resemble a dive site, where
  divers need to swim around to encounter an
  enhanced varied marine population. Even more
  adventurous is to visit the enclosures by night,
  giving divers a thrill dive to remember).

3
MAP Phase 1

• Atlantis Enclosure
• This will consist of an enclosure 100m in
  diameter having its side net fall down 30m deep
  pegged to the seabed. In order to create shelter
  for fish artificial reefs will be constructed
  over sand in the shape of an artist impression of
  the legendary lost city of Atlantis. The
  architecture design is to be taken from our
  Neolithic Temple Builders. Another reef is made
  to resemble a Roman ship belonging to St Paul
  also placed on sand.

• Marine World Enclosure
• Another enclosure 80m in diameter having a
  net to form its bottom falling to a depth of 12m
  suitable for snorkel divers, novice scuba
  divers for rod fishing competitions when no
  diving is taking place.
• (Catch release bases - barbless fish tackle
  will be used which is less harmful to the fish)

4
Miniature Film Set of an Underwater Temple -
The Legendary Lost City of Atlantis
5
Examples of Species Kept in Atlantis Enclosure
Bronze Grouper
Common Grouper
Sunfish
Bluefin Tuna
6
MAP Phase 2

• Placing of Adopted Reef Balls on the seabed under
  Enclosure B
• These structures will create a man made habitat
  shelter for fish living off the biological
  nutrients derived from the same enclosure
  situated 20 meters above the reef balls/seabed.
• Two sizes of reef balls will be constructed the
  Ggantija size a smaller Mnajdra size.

7
Proposed Location

• About one kilometre out at sea from the cliffs of
  Mgiebah coastline but not too much out to be in
  the way to obstruct boat traffic en route to and
  from Comino. The seabed here is not more than 30
  meters deep with sand patches low density
  marine flora.

8
MAP Attractions - A Variety of FISH

• Marine World
• Enclosure
• Fish ranging in size mostly up to 60 cms will be
  kept such as Dolphin fish, John Dories, Trigger
  fish, White bream, Sea bass, Gilthead Bream,
  Pandora, Rays, Smooth hounds, Red Scorpions,
  Pilot fish and other species swim freely in an
  enclosure having the capacity to hold 76 million
  litres of water. (13 million gallons)

• Atlantis Enclosure
• Fish that are rarely encountered ranging in size
  from 50 - 300 cms. Such as a Sun Fish,
  Spearfish, Tuna, Rays, Groupers, Nurse Hounds,
  Anglerfish, Angel Shark and other species swim
  freely in an enclosures having the capacity to
  hold 236 million litres of water (47 million
  gallons)

9
Environmental Other Concerns

• Controlled feeding done by hand thus no
  overfeeding problems therefore no bad smell in
  the air.
• No killing of fish thus no fish carcasses/waste
  floating on the surface.
• A monitoring program using a set of biological
  indicators to assess the state of the marine
  environment fish conditions.
• A negative impact in the area is also very bad
  for business.
• MAP termination.The site can be completely
  reversed to its original state.

• MAP will not be a fish farm in disguise nor to
  become a fish farm/tuna pen when MAP seizes its
  proposed function.
• MAP to use recycled fish feed.
• No protected species, only Med. Sea species
  caught by local fishermen are to be kept.
• No houses close- by to the proposed site only
  terraced fields some farmers huts.
• MAP will seek to put together a Co - Management
  policy.
• Will MAP attract sharks?

10
MAP in Support of-

• MAP for Fish Sciences
• MAP for Education marine awareness.
• MAP s (MPD) to fund other dive site enhancement
  projects
• MAP addresses the weakest link in diving tourism
  - The lack of fish.
• MAP a unique diving attraction not found anywhere
  else.
• MAP attracting private investment job creation.
• MAP creating more work for commercial boat
  owners.
• MAP shifts divers impact away from sensitive
  areas.

• MAP creating a new managed dive site in a place
  where no diving activity takes place.
• MAP provides the experience for divers to
  interact come face to face with certain fish
  species very rarely found
• MAP will attract numerous snorkel divers who
  could possibly try Scuba diving as well. A source
  of new business to dive school operators.
• MAP and the promotion it attracts, locally off-
  shore is beneficial for diving tourism. film
  TV industry.
• MAP operating all year round.