Malta · Spearfishing zone
HMS Russell protected wreck site (off Marsaskala)
What this zone is
Overview
How spearfishing is treated at HMS Russell protected wreck site (off Marsaskala).
The battleship HMS Russell off Malta. Declared archaeological zone at sea under the Cultural Heritage Act (Cap. 445) (Government Gazette declarations of 31 May 2019 No. 615, 8 Oct 2019 No. 1261, 4 Mar 2022 No. 20799 and 27 Oct 2023 No. 21139), listed in Transport Malta Notice to Mariners No 02 of 2024 with a 500 m buffer area. The notice states that spear fishing and set bottom lines, trammel/gill/entangling nets, encircling nets and demersal pots and traps are prohibited in these areas; only surface fishing including trolling is allowed. The buffer is also a 'no stopping area' for vessels, and diving on the wreck needs a Heritage Malta (Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit) permit.
On the coast
Location
Approximate reference point for this zone. See the full picture on the interactive map.
35.9033°N, 14.6079°E
View on the mapSource
This zone is documented in the official source below.
Before you dive
License for Malta
Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.
