Cap. 479 Art. 2Sovereign rights over designated fishing waters. Cap. 226. Cap. 425.

(1) Subject to the provisions of subarticle (2), the Prime

Minister may by Order published in the Gazette claim sovereign rights for Malta, for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the living and, or non-living natural resources therein, over such areas of the marine waters beyond the limits laid down in article 3(2) of the Territorial Waters and Contiguous Zone Act as may be designated in the Order and thereupon the areas so designated shall constitute part of the fishing waters of Malta as provided in article 3(c) of the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act.

(2) The Prime Minister may also by Order published in the Gazette provide for the exercise of jurisdiction beyond the territorial waters of Malta with regard to -

(a) the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations and structures;

(b) marine scientific research; and

(c) the protection and preservation of the maritime environment.

(3) Any Order made under this article may contain any such terms or conditions as the Prime Minister may deem appropriate.