Maltese fish stocks 'at risk'
EU asked to intervene
Fish stocks in Maltese waters and the surrounding areas are being exposed to new exotic viruses because of the huge quantities of imported fish used in tuna farming, according to a report submitted by the global conservation organisation World Wide Fund (WWF).
The international organisation is therefore asking the European Union to urgently ban the use of non-Mediterranean fish as feed in tuna farming, a practice which, according to WWF, is also being used in Maltese fish farms.
The report shows that during their captivity, which lasts about six months, tuna are fed large quantities of fish imported frozen and untreated from other regions such as West Africa, the North Atlantic and North and South America. According to WWF, this practice is inflicting great harm to the wild fish stocks in the Mediterranean by introducing new viruses that are affecting the whole Mediterranean ecosystem.
Mentioning specifically Malta, Spain, Italy, Greece and Cyprus, the report states that this feeding practice is threatening both the health of local fish populations and the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen that rely on them. WWF is arguing that the problem is mainly European and, thus, the EU has the responsibility to deal with these threats.
Speaking to The Times, Sergi Tudela, fisheries coordinator of WWF, said: "In the case of Malta, by assuming that about 4,000 tonnes of tuna are currently caged (in fact the total final capacity by the six Maltese farms declared to ICCAT amounts to 6,350 tonnes), the total amount of baitfish needed annually to feed these tuna could be estimated to about 36,000 tonnes."
Dr Tudela said that during discussions with the European Commission, Malta was specifically mentioned as one of the key EU areas affected. However, he complained that the response so far from the Commission has been negative.
Referring specifically on the approach being adopted by Maltese Commissioner Joe Borg, who is responsible for EU fisheries, Dr Tudela said Dr Borg's stance is very disappointing.
"Commissioner Borg refused to adopt a ban on the use of untreated imported fish in tuna farms, as we suggested, on the basis of the 'severe immediate economic consequences on the tuna farming industry' it would have."
Dr Tudela remarked that this position clearly privileges the interest of big tuna farming operators to the detriment of local fishermen and the environment.