EU talks on fisheries expected to be concluded today
Agreement on conservation zone, aid to fishermen
Malta and the European Union are today expected to conclude negotiations on the fisheries chapter, one of the trickiest in the EU membership process, informed sources said.
A negotiating session in Brussels is expected to endorse an agreement designating a 25-mile fisheries conservation zone around Malta.
"This means that the 25 miles around Malta will continue to be managed by Malta for conservation purposes - on behalf of the union," the sources said. The chairman of the Malta negotiating team, Richard Cachia Caruana is in Brussels for today's negotiating session.
The agreement specifies that fishing within the conservation zone would be capped at the current level.
The government has told fishermen's representatives that the agreement with the EU over the 25-mile fishing conservation zone would guarantee the livelihood of local fishermen.
The only Maltese boats affected by the agreement would be those longer than 12 metres as they would not be allowed to operate in the conservation zone unless fishing for lampuki, and when they follow a specific type of fishing, called lampara, where fishermen use a large lamp to attract fish.
The authorities estimate that out of 1,500 boats, only around 50 are longer than 12 metres. Most of these are usually used for fishing beyond the 25-mile conservation zone. However, the owners of these boats would be eligible for financial aid either to upgrade their boats with bigger engines to fish beyond the 25- mile fishing zone or to buy smaller vessels which would enable them to fish within the conservation zone.
Owners of all boats larger then six metres will also be eligible for financial aid.
The agreement also lists fish that are of economic significance to Maltese fishermen and which are to be included in the EU list for which aid is provided.
The agreement provides that upon accession, a special programme for Malta, financed by the EU, would be provided to help in the modernisation of the Maltese fishing fleet, port facilities and the fish market.
The government recently unveiled a Lm2.4 million financial package in aid for local fishermen to strengthen their operations. The package, explained to the fishermen's representatives by fisheries minister Ninu Zammit, has been worked out in the light of the 25-mile fishing conservation zone around the islands negotiated by government and new regulations on fishing vessels.
The aid will start being given to fishermen as from September and will be spread over 18 months. The aid will be available - with different degrees - to both full-time and part-time fishermen, as well as to market fishermen. The package is divided into two schemes and it is estimated that 700 owners of boats which are larger then six metres will be eligible.