Aquaculture company to receive €127,000 in aid

A Maltese aquaculture company is to benefit from over €127,000 in financial aid under the FIFG 2004-2006 EU programme, according to Parliamentary Secretary Frans Agius.

Under the same assistance programme, money has been allocated for dry standing facilities, which are new to Maltese fishermen, who have had to go to Italy to maintain their boats.

The facility, which will cost Lm1 million and will be located at Marsaxlokk, will provide 16 places for fishing boats to be maintained. Three-quarters of the total cost is being funded by the EU, Dr Agius said.

Two cranes are being bought for the facility: one will be working on land, while the other can go underwater and lift up boats.

Dr Agius was speaking at yesterday's inauguration of a permanent interactive exhibition on life in Maltese waters in Fort St Lucian at Marsaxlokk.

The exhibition gives visitors the opportunity to admire and explore from close quarters life in Malta's surrounding seas.

Part of the Centru Malti tax-Xjenza tas-Sajd, it consists of an aquarium with a variety of fish that live in different environments, ponds with bigger fish, where turtles that are protected by law are being rehabilitated, and an audio-visual exhibition that explains the complex and fascinating eco-system of the surrounding seas.

The aquaculture centre was working with the private sector so that other fish could also be breed in the fish farms, such as amberjacks, which would be important for Malta.

The exhibition was inaugurated by the EU Commissioner of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Dr Joe Borg. Also present at the opening was Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino. and pupils from Marsaxlokk primary school and San Anton School.