Launch of Ocean Literacy competition to mark World Ocean Day

World Ocean Day is commemorated each year by the United Nations on the 8^th of June, to celebrate the important role the Ocean plays in making this planet habitable. CORALLO is a project led by the University of Malta (Prof. Alan Deidun, Department of Geosciences), which also sees the participation of ERA and of Heritage Malta. It aspires to promote the responsible enjoyment of Natura 2000 sites in Malta. Two of the Natura 2000 sites included in the CORALLO project are the following:

the one encompassing the Għar Lapsi-Mnajdra coastline (Wied Magħlaq) as well as the waters around Filfla (MT102 – Żona fl-inħawi ta’ Għar Lapsi u ta’ Filfla)
the one extending from St. Julian’s (eastern coast of Malta) to northern Gozo (MT105 – Żona fil-baħar bejn il-ponta ta’ San Dimitri (Għawdex) u il-Qaliet)

A competition is being held for all young (ages 5-16) holders of the Heritage Malta passport to celebrate the natural/living assets of this stretch of coastline. Students can participate in any of the following 3 competition categories, as follows:

All submissions must be related to either the Għar Lapsi-Mnajdra Magħlaq coastline and/or the islet of Filfla and can represent/display/show any of the following aspects:

Human activities related to the responsible and sustainable enjoyment of these areas (e.g. SCUBA diving, snorkelling, kayaking, paddling, small-scale fishing, coastal walks/hiking, stand-up paddling, coastal clean-ups, etc);
Geological features (arches, caves, cliffs, islets, etc)
Natural landscapes

One submission per category will be rewarded during the annual Ocean Literacy event being organised by the University of Malta at the Malta National Aquarium. All participants will be presented with a CORALLO project memento. His Excellency President George Vella will preside over the event.

Anybody participating in the competition can send their entry to projectcorallo @gmail.com. Submissions will be accepted until 28th June 2022.

Productions for Category 3 need to also be submitted to the receptionist of the Maths and Physics Building at the University of Malta, or at the Aquarium (usually open until 4pm). These will be exhibited at the Malta National Aquarium for a few weeks following the same event.