The Malta Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprise, GRTU yesterday called on the government to put an immediate stop to the fish farms project off Marsascala.
GRTU director general Vince Farrugia said Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi must shelve the project while proper discussions take place.
There are currently two blue fin tuna farms in the area, which will be relocated to an area six kilometres offshore, while the project will also allow the allocation of more tuna farming permits for the zone.
The GRTU and the Marsascala Shop Owners' Association are expected to voice their concerns and objections tomorrow during a Malta Environment and Planning Authority hearing.
However, Mr Farrugia insisted that the government, rather than Mepa, should halt the project.
He said the chamber's fight against the project would continue irrespective of the authority's decision. Mr Farrugia warned a comprehensive campaign was planned which included taking the issue before the European Parliament.
Marsascala Shop Owners' Association president Reuben Buttigieg said the impact on tourism and business in the Marsascala area, as well as health implications for residents and people working in the locality, had not been given due consideration in the Economic Impact Assessment. Nor did this consider the impact on the value of property.
Moreover, he said, the GRTU's objections to the project have not been considered by the Mepa board.
A report compiled by economist Edward Scicluna and biologist Carmelo Agius for the Malta Aquaculture Producers Association said the whole purpose of making an Environment Impact Statement had been "seriously jeopardised by a significant lack of information given to the consultants in critical areas".
The report said all the scientific, technical, economic and aquaculture policy assumptions, and related risk assessments, were "simply and solely" based on verbal personal communications of the consultants with the Fisheries Director. Mr Buttigieg said it was obvious that as the applicant, the Fisheries Director would be in favour of the project.
"The lack of clear and transparent official planning documents at the disposal of the consultants has resulted in an impressively gigantic EIS report which is entirely based on unknown or uncorroborated data and mere conjectures," the report said.
Deficiencies included the lack of consultation with the major insurers of tuna projects and with the Japanese purchasers of tuna.
Another report commissioned by the Marsascala Shop Owners' Association mentioned a number of problems including the impact on three protected species, winds affecting the area and coastal pollution. Mr Buttigieg explained that around 20 per cent of the feed would be dispersed in the sea and 35 per cent of tuna would be thrown back in the sea after they had died.
Mr Farrugia also mentioned the Sant Antnin recycling plant, which has already had a negative impact on Marsascala. He said he was not surprised at the emergence of a new apolitical party in the locality.
He also pointed out that the chamber did not have anything against fish farms in general, though it was not convinced about the merits of this project.
In a reply, the Rural Affairs and Environment Ministry expressed surprise that the GRTU held a press conference since legal proceedings it had initiated had still not been heard. It asked whether the GRTU and the association wanted the government to dismantle the industry, relocate it or leave it as it is.