Conservation Area around the MV Pippo wreck (off Dahlet ix-Xilep)

Statutory 100 m-radius conservation area centred on the MV Pippo wreck off Dahlet ix-Xilep (Marfa Ridge). Set by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and published in Transport Malta Local Notice to Mariners No 025 of 2026 (27 Feb 2026, in force, supersedes LNtM 113 of 2024). The area is a 100 m radius circle around the published centre point. Spear fishing and set bottom lines, trammel/gill/entangling nets, encircling nets and demersal pots and traps are prohibited inside the area. This is NOT a blanket no-take area: trolling lines (rixa) remain permitted here whenever no diving vessel is displaying the Alpha flag. Only vessels engaged in recreational/technical diving operations may enter or moor, after pre-notification to Valletta VTS.