€1,500 fine for walking on top of Dwejra’s Azure Window

Environment Minister José Herrera announced yesterday that an emergency conservation order has been issued for the Azure Window site, and that anyone walking on top of the geological structure or in the area by the sea below will be fined.

The order published by the ERA states that nobody without ERA permission can access, walk, abseil, climb or jump off the Window, or access the sea area underneath it.

Earlier this week a video of a man jumping off the Window hit the media, and showed rocks falling off the structure.

The order will be valid for six months, the minister said, explaining that in this time, the government will need to change some laws to allow for permanent conservation orders and on the spot fines.

Currently, fines can only be handed out by the court, and breaching a conservation order will result in a minimum €1,500 fine, and possibly imprisonment.

Dr Herrera also explained that the Committee looking into the conservation of Dwejra, led by Dr Timmy Gambin, received a number of reports by experts relating to the Azure Window, and based on these is compiling its own report which the committee will present to the Environment, Gozo and Tourism Ministries. In turn, the ministries will in the coming weeks co-announce what kind of enforcement will be used on site; one idea being mooted is having a park ranger.

Wooden bollards will be placed around the invisible boundary informing people that walking beyond that point is an offence.

The minister was also asked about Natura 2000 sites being used in film productions, to which he said that such productions would need to follow very strict guidelines.