Plea to allow Maltese fishermen in Libya conservation zone

Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino has urged the Libyan government to agree to allow Maltese fishermen to use Libya's recently announced conservation zone.

During a meeting in Libya with his counterpart Abu-Bakr Mabrouk al-Mansouri, Mr Pullicino explained that the conservation zone established by Libya was one traditionally used by Maltese fishermen.

He said Maltese fishermen used small fishing boats and traditional methods of fishing so they did not pose a danger to the sustainability of the zone. He also highlighted the difficulties of convincing fishermen they should stop fishing in that zone.

Mr Pullicino and Dr Mabrouk al-Mansouri agreed to explore possible solutions, including joint ventures, that would be beneficial to fishermen from both countries.

The two sides agreed to set up a technical committee to study the opportunities that existed in the agricultural sector. The committee will draw up an action plan to focus on a number of priorities.

The meeting also discussed the environment, particularly the problem of pollution in the Mediterranean.