VALLETTA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Malta increased its marine protected areas by 20 percent to 4,138 square km, or about 35 percent of the country's territorial waters, Environment Minister Jose Herrera announced on Tuesday.

Addressing journalists, the minister said the decision was made after experts identified that a number of species are being threatened in their habitat.

The project, called LIFE BAHAR, also extended three offshore sites which had previously been designated as marine protection areas because of the presence of both loggerhead turtles and bottlenose dolphins.

"Now more than ever we are recognizing the need to preserve our seas which is our asset to be passed on to future generations," Herrera said, calling for more actions in combating littering.

According to the minister, 80 percent of marine litter was originated from land.