The Marsascala, Birzebbuga, Marsaxlokk and Xghajra local councils, which have formed a common front to oppose a proposal to concentrate all fish farms in the south east of Malta, have started collecting signatures for a petition against the proposal.

The councils are inviting the public to call at one of the councils or at shops in Marsascala to sign the petition. They have also urged another 17 councils to accept an invitation to support its cause and join the front. An application to set up a fish farm zone six miles off Delimara, bringing all fish farms in one area, was submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority by the Department of Fisheries.

The front is claiming that the conglomeration of fish farms would contaminate the sea and would be detrimental to residents and tourists as well as to shop owners and other commercial outlets.