Land use conflict in Marsaxlokk bay

Abstract

Definition of land use conflict: Land use conflict occurs when the same land can support different uses and stakeholders disagree as to which use is the best. The accessible part of the Maltese coastline has been modified and extensively used by a variety of uses all competing for space and resources. Being a nation state with a resident population of around 400,000, and a million visitors annually, Malta has to be self-sufficient and provide for all the socio-economic needs that any country requires. Coastal uses within the Maltese Islands vary from structural development that requires such a location for its operational purposes (e.g. thermal power station, ports) to structural development that benefits from a coastal location but does not necessitate such space for its operation (e.g. hotels, non-water related sports grounds). There are uses found on the coast simply because the nature of the exploitable resource happens to be on the coast (e.g. mineral extraction such as salt panning). The majority of these uses, whether they necessitate a coastal location or not, have been developed in a manner that has not considered the implications they may have on natural resources, processes and ultimately, other uses