Designated aquaculture zone

I refer to William Camilleri's letter (January 3).

The "brand new fish farm in Qawra Bay" consisted of a single cage (without nets) moored in Salina Bay. Mepa is informed that this cage had suffered storm damage and was given a temporary mooring permit by the Malta Maritime Authority to allow repairs to be carried out.

Given that no nets or fish are present under the cage collar, the environmental impact caused by the temporary presence of this cage on site is deemed to be negligible. The cage has now been removed from the site in question.

Mepa is currently collaborating with the Fisheries Conservation and Control Division to allow the development of a zone designated for the exclusive use of aquaculture in offshore waters (approximately six kilometres offshore) so that potential conflicting use of the coastal waters will be minimised through appropriate management.