Ministry says necessary action taken on blue fin tuna infringements

The rural affairs ministry said today it had taken necessary actions on some 12 infringements reported by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) on breaches on Maltese-owned boats observed during inspections carried out at sea during the 2010 fishing season.

“The Maltese authorities have received these alleged infringements and have taken the necessary actions. A number of administrative fines have been applied. A number of cases have been settled and others are awaiting court procedures,” a ministry spokesperson said.

Malta emerged as the country with by far the highest number of recorded infringements – although not necessarily the most serious – in the blue fin tuna ranching trade in 2010, ICCAT official documents reveal.

"In the case of the Turkish infringements, the boat owners did not even allow the ICCAT inspector aboard the vessel - a far more serious infringement than those recorded for the Maltese," a spokesperson for the acquaculture industry told MaltaToday yesterday.

Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green Party said that it was “shameful” that Malta had the highest recorded infringements in the blue fin tuna ranching trade in 2010.

“It is shameful that the Maltese government keeps playing to the tune of big business interests which are only interested in making as much profit in the shortest timeframe possible, periling tuna populations in the process,” AD chairperson Michael Briguglio said.

“The unsustainable fishing of blue fin tuna will not only lead to extinction of this fish unless urgent measures are taken, as recommended by the European Commission, by scientists and environmental NGOs such as WWF and Greenpeace, but will also endanger the livelihood of the majority of Maltese fishermen who use traditional modes of fishing.”

AD said it was concerned that the government was contesting the European Commission’s proposal for cuts in tuna quotas. “Such cuts can help ensure the survival of this species in the Mediterranean, and which will guarantee a future for fishermen using traditional and sustainable fishing methods,” the party said.