Artisanal fishers claim discrimination over removal of fuel tax exemption

The Marsaxlokk Artisanal Fishers (MAF) association has filed a judicial protest requesting an immediate stop to what it said was blatant and abusive discrimination against its members.

The MAF is made up of artisanal fishermen who fish in a traditional and sustainable manner, who want to protect the rights of small-scale, low-impact fishermen as opposed to large scale and industrial fishing operations. 

 “We have been arbitrarily informed that MAF fishers would no longer receive an exemption on tax on fuels unless we joined another fishing co-operative,” MAF presented Martin Caruana said today.

All MAF members are registered according to law and insiste they should benefit from Energy Taxation Directive 2003/96/EC which allows for certain exemptions of tax on fuels used for navigation in fishing.

“This sudden withholding of an exemption which is accorded to all fishermen is grossly discriminatory and breaches the right to freedom of association. It only serves to put small-scale traditional fishermen out of their job,” the MAF said.

The MAF called upon the authorities to reverse their unjustified decision.

The judicial protest was filed against the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Agriculture Roderick Galdes, the Director General of Fisheries Dr. Andreina Fenech Farrugia, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi and the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. It was signed by Dr. Claire Bonello.