Editor
Valletta (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Malta’s Labour MEP Thomas Bajada notes to the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee to take fast motion over considerations introduced by Lampuki fishers over the sale of fish at different member nations throughout the closed season.
What Are the Concerns Raised by MEP Bajada?
“This scenario poses a considerable menace to the EU’s conservation efforts and the job of GFCM in selling sustainable administration of this culturally vital fish inventory in Maltese properties. Furthermore, illicit fishing throughout the closed season not solely breaks these laws but additionally disrupts the extent enjoying area within the Mediterranean Sea, unfairly disadvantaging our fishers,” the MEP said in a letter to committee head Spanish MEP Carmen Crespo Díaz.
Reacting to the difficulty, Nationalist MEP Peter Agius criticised the federal government over failing to work on the “discrimination” in opposition to Maltese fishermen, who he expressed should abide by the legal guidelines, whereas their European and Mediterranean companions don’t.
On the opposite hand, Fisheries Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said hit the Nationalist MEP for what she said was “misinformation”. “Read, perceive the principles, after which converse,” Bugeja said in reply to Agius’s statements.
How Is Malta Addressing Illegal Lampuki Fishing During the Closed Season?
Malta “laboured arduous to barter a good quota for native fishing fans,” the MEP said, explaining that the primary bid solely allowed hobbyists to catch one Lampuka per day. “Today, hobbyists can catch as much as 10 kilos every single day or 70 kilos every week, this implies {that a} boat with three fishermen can catch as much as 30 kilos every single day.”
She said, addressing the MEP, “This is all populism out of your finish and sadly this motion of misinformation is deceiving Malta’s fishing fans. I perceive that you just’re simply starting within the European Parliament however I hoped that you just’d do your examine and in addition perceive how these legal guidelines are drawn up.”
She said earlier than the principles have been drawn up, fishers have been permitted to fish after the Santa Marija feast, and Maltese fishermen have been the one ones aiming to catch the fish, however now “it has change into everybody’s catch. If there’s a legislation, it should apply to everybody, I’ll by no means settle for that Malta is at an obstacle,” she mentioned.
