The Maltese Islands are a well known Mediterranean destination, appreciated for their crystal clear sea, mild climate, and cultural vibrancy. Tourism plays an important role in the local economy and supports many livelihoods across the archipelago.
When planning a trip, we are often overwhelmed by options promoted through search engines and social media, eye-catching experiences, attractions, and “must see” activities. While filtering through these options, each of us makes choices about how to spend our time, money and attention, based on different personal priorities.
As Young Friends of the Earth Malta, we would like to share some simple tools that can help visitors enjoy the islands while reducing harm and showing care for the places and beings they encounter.
When you arrive in a new place, different attraction points naturally appear on your radar: places to eat, historical sites, beaches, and natural landscapes. In Malta, common tourist recommendations often include locations, such as the dolphinarium, zoos, and the aquarium.
Especially for families travelling with children, these venues are often chosen with good intentions: helping children connect with animals, offering an exciting experience, or creating memorable moments. But while these spaces are presented as educational or entertaining, how often do we stop to consider their impact both on the surrounding ecosystem and on the animals living inside them?
This brings us to an important question: how can we plan a holiday that allows meaningful contact with marine life without supporting captivity?
While many countries worldwide and across Europe are moving towards closing dolphin parks through new legislations, Malta continues to host an active dolphinarium.
In 2014, Malta banned the use of animals in circuses. Yet, at the same time, dolphins at the dolphinarium continue to be compelled to perform using music, visual distractions, and food rewards, undergoing hours of training every day. Although the facility operates under a “zoo” licence, many animal welfare advocates argue that its functioning closely resembles a circus model, raising serious legal and ethical concerns. At the dolphinarium, five dolphins are currently kept in captivity, and thousands of tourists visit the park every year.
But why are so many countries taking action to shut down dolphin parks, and why is Malta lagging behind?
In the wild, dolphins traverse vast distances every day. In contrast, the standard tank size in a dolphinarium is estimated to be around 200,000 times smaller than their natural habitat. Even in “well‑funded” European facilities, the difference between the respective tank size and the dolphins’ natural habitat remains immense.
Captive dolphins are frequently administered antibiotics to prevent infections, particularly during periods of heightened stress. Over time, antibiotic treatment becomes routine. The underlying reason is simple: a concrete pool filled with treated water cannot replicate a natural marine environment.
Water quality, prolonged exposure to the sun, constant performances, artificial feeding schedules, and forced interactions all contribute to chronic stress, weakened immune systems, and health complications. The dolphinarium is not an exception to these conditions.
Moreover, the dolphinarium lacks any form of shading, meaning dolphins cannot escape the intense Maltese sun or retreat to deeper, cooler water as they would in their natural habitats. It is also one of the few places in Europe that still allows “swim with dolphins” programmes, which have been banned in most other countries due to animal welfare concerns. Studies show these interactions can lead to chronic stress, weakened immunity, increased risk of illness, behavioural changes, such as anxiety, and disruption of maternal care in young dolphins.
In 2021, five dolphins at the park were diagnosed with lead intoxication. Three of them; Mar, Onda, and Melita, later died after ingesting contaminated material that had fallen or been spilled into the tank. According to animal rights groups monitoring the situation, no meaningful corrective action was taken by authorities or park owners to address water quality or living conditions following these deaths.
When you book a visit to the dolphinarium as part of your Malta holiday, you are not simply “having an experience with dolphins.” You are supporting a system in which five male bottlenose dolphins; Sol, Ninu, Cha, Rohan, and Luqa, spend their lives confined and used for human entertainment.
This does not mean you need to distance yourself from the sea or marine life. On the contrary, Malta is an island country! This brings us to the question posed at the beginning of this article:
How can we plan a holiday that allows meaningful contact with marine life without supporting captivity?
While choosing not to support captivity, you can quite literally walk a few minutes further from the park and enter the sea directly into the natural habitat of the animals you wish to encounter. If you are coming to Malta, do not forget to bring your snorkelling gear!
There are many ways to experience marine life responsibly: joining guided snorkelling activities, learning about local biodiversity,and observing animals without damaging their habitats.
If you are interested in marine conservation, consider exploring the work of Sharklab‑Malta, which is an NGO focused on shark research, releases, and public engagement. The organisation also runs snorkelling activities throughout the year and welcomes contact from visitors.
If you prefer to snorkel independently, make sure you choose appropriate locations. Here are a few examples:
- Għar Lapsi (Siġġiewi). What you might see: wrasse, bream, octopus (well hidden), and various invertebrates.
- Fomm ir‑Riħ (Baħrija). What you might see: schools of damselfish, groupers at depth, and healthy rocky reefs.
- Qawra Point (St Paul’s Bay). What you might see: salema, bream, parrotfish, and occasionally cuttlefish.
- Check out Environment & Resources Authority’s snorkeling trails, developed in collaboration with Ambjent Malta and Nature Trust Malta in Ramla tal-Mixquqa (Golden Bay) and Għajn Tuffieħa Bay
General rules for non‑disruptive snorkelling (golden key: look, don’t touch, and leave no trace):
Do not touch marine life, rocks, or seagrass meadows.
Never feed fish or marine animals.
Respect Posidonia oceanica; a flowering plant and legally protected habitat under EU and Maltese law.
Wear a rash guard and use reef‑safe sunscreen.
Do not remove anything natural from the sea.
Learn about the local marine environment.
Choose responsible snorkelling tours
Malta is not just a destination to be consumed and left behind. It is home to living beings, communities and ecosystems, all with a future at stake. The question is not only what you explore in Malta,but what kind of impact you choose to have.
Berra Güneş, YFoEM
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The cover photo was kindly provided by the team behind the “Waves Not Walls” campaign, which is campaigning for the regulation of the dolphinarium.
This campaign was created to raise awareness among tourists about our impact on the island. Malta is often advertised as a party destination, but it is also and especially a unique and fragile place, rich in natural beauty and facing serious challenges related to climate change and resource scarcity.
This article is part of the Tourist Tips for a Tired Island: the campaign on sustainable tourism carried out by the youth group Young Friends of the Earth Malta.
Sources and other links:
The dark side of dolphinariums: 5 alarming facts you should know
Parliament of Malta – Animal Welfare (Amendment) Act
Wild Dolphin Behavior Changes Due To Human Interaction
Update on captive dolphin deaths in Malta | Marine Connection
