Update 2: Tuna fishing protest: Joe Borg ready to meet fishermen
EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg has declared he is ready to meet fishermen who earlier today protested in Malta over the ban on purse seiner fishing for tuna, but he said such a meeting cannot happen before Monday, and a formal request has to be made.
The protest was made outside the EU offices in Ta' Xbiex by a group of some 300 Italian and French fishermen who warned that they would block Grand Harbour and Marsaxlokk unless they are given an appointment to meet EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg.
Following the announcement by Dr Borg's office a spokesman for the fishermen said they were not satisfied since the meeting needed to be held urgently, given that the fishing season was advanced.
The fishermen have some 30 trawlers based in Malta. They are insisting that because of poor weather they only fished for a few days and have not yet achieved the fishing quota set by the EU.
Furthermore, they said it was unfair that fishermen from other countries such as Croatia and Libya were continuing to fish for tuna.
Fishing for blue fin tuna using purse seiner nets was banned as from last Monday, but Maltese fishermen were not affected since they use traditional methods to fish for tuna. Malta has only two registered purse seiner fishermen.
Purse seiners are considered to be the main culprits of the recent depletion of tuna stocks as hundreds of fish are caught in one go. According to estimates, at the height of the season, in June, the EU purse seine fleet was capable of catching 10 per cent of the EU's total annual quota in just three days.
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In Discussion
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martin portelli
Jun 19th 2008, 19:48
Do you seriously think that there is no Maltese interest in promoting this protest?
Phil Pryce
Jun 19th 2008, 15:09
So just who will these fishermen blame when there are no Tuna left in the sea? I suspect everyone but themselves.
Joseph Mizzi
Jun 18th 2008, 23:14
I fully agree with Graham Crocker's comment. Just imagine us Maltese trying to obstruct entrance to any port in France or Italy or any other sovereign country, where would we find ourselves. This is a very serious matter. The government should show them the way out of our waters and declare them persona non grata and arrest them if found back in our waters. Cannot they afford to let the tuna be for just a fortnight, thus dolphins and turtles can have some chance of survival?
Denis Catania
Jun 18th 2008, 15:05
If they are breaking the law arrest them. If not ,that's part of demcracy,to demostrate in peace.We should learn from them. If 300 forieghners can come to Malta to protest an issue.How many Maltese can we get to go to Valletta and protest the invasion of the poor immigrants.I sure hope if Mr Borg is going to listen to them. the Maltese government should listen to the Maltese people. If either party can get 35,000 or more at a mass meeting. I think there has to be an organizer that can organize a big rally.
Christian Abdilla
Jun 18th 2008, 11:56
Strangely enough I can't remember having all these foreign fishermen here last year threatening to block the ports and harbours of a sovereign country. Could it be because they were busy overfishing the bluefin tuna stock into extinction ?
A.Farrugia
Jun 18th 2008, 10:25
@g.c.forte. - yes i agree with you that they are our brothers and yes our freeport ppl protested as well...but two things i would like to point out: 1. when freeport people protested they went to brussels not in an another country; 2. if we are brothers in eu, then eu 'brothers and sisters' should help us in the burden share of illegal immigrants no!
graziella cavlan
Jun 17th 2008, 22:33
The EU must stand its ground against these fishing methods that are causing great depletion of stocks of tuna as well as other pelagic fish accompanying the tuna while they migrate, like the shark. Malta must rise against these fishing gears and implement a sustainable fishery and teach the rest of Europe how we can fish without damaging stocks and destroying our sea. Malta needs a plan of action.
david scerri
Jun 17th 2008, 21:53
they are thinking of blocking Maltese ports,and you let these people stay on Maltese land, the next tine they leave port they should be stopped from ever entering Maltese waters ever again.
Salvatore Aquilina
Jun 17th 2008, 21:50
Seem all foreigners in Malta they do what they wont no thanks to PN
Kevin Zammit
Jun 17th 2008, 20:42
These people will fish themselves to death. Here's the logic:
I'm an employee fisherman, one day I decide to loan a fortune and setup on my own. Now I demand to be allowed to make a profit. Thinking is not wrong if it were not for the fact that overfishing will put evverybody out of business anyway. Newfoundland is a classic example.
It is of course unfair that the regulated or those thata play by the rules are being cheated by those not unsubstantial numbers that do not. But hey-ho! who said life is fair? Somebody somewhere has to do something.
Joe has probably the toughest portfolio after agriculture.
ray Bajada
Jun 17th 2008, 19:47
The police should arrest them immediately. They are organising a protest without having any permits and instigating trouble!
That's what the police has done with some maltese guys who forwarded sms to hold a meeting to protest against the closed spring hunting season.
This is something more serious but nothing will be done...............after all these are 'foreigners'
Denis Catania
Jun 17th 2008, 17:56
Sounds like these tuna pens are causing Malta alot of headaches. Get rid of them. Can Malta afford to get rid of these tuna pens? I know this sounds like, we are running away from problems.It will probably help the immigration problem too.
Alfred Farrugia
Jun 17th 2008, 17:37
May I suggest that these French and Italian fishermen take their protest to Brussels where the EU Fisheries Commissioner might be in a position to meet with them more urgently.
D. MANGION
Jun 17th 2008, 15:33
Whilst they're at it, how about blocking also some of our bays? In that way, they might prevent the jellyfish from entering our bays and we might just be able to enjoy summer swimming in peace !
Graham Crocker
Jun 17th 2008, 15:31
Italy and France, blocking our ports?
Isn't that like a Reason for war in some places?
g.c.forte
Jun 17th 2008, 15:28
@ H.Farrugia.....I do not wish to look like a pessimist ,but for my knowledge these are no foreigners to us, but brothers from the E.U. and we suppose to share the good and the bad things.A group of maltese workers ( freeport) went to make protests in Brussels last year.It happened that the E.U. Commissioner is maltese ,so what do you expect; they go to italy to protest. In my opinion we should support them because as they are saying....fishermen from outer E.U. are still fishing. This means also that the fish is getting scarce and to buy fish is going to be so expensive.Mind you I am not a fisherman,and I love my country, thats why I voted NO in the referendum. Do not forget that we are ONE block and whats good for goose is good for the gender.
A Daley
Jun 17th 2008, 15:27
X'tahwid man, x'tahwid.
Viva l-EU. Enjoy the rid of deceit!
DAVID FARRUGIA
Jun 17th 2008, 15:24
I expect our mep's in brussels to voice our concerns. Well it's an opportunity for Joseph to show his credentials after all he is an european mep.
L Galea
Jun 17th 2008, 14:35
It is known that the main culprits for the demise of the blue fin tuna are the purse seiners and they were supposed to have been stopped operating years ago.
The fishermen shoyuld go and block their oun country's ports not ours.
Isn't it absurd that they are using our ports as a base to deplete the tuna population?
I also agree with your correspondent that the Maltese government should take strong action against these foreign fishermen if they try to block our ports.
As an aside, as another correspondent has asked, where can we organize a protest against the ILLEGAL immigrants invasion?
H Farrugia
Jun 17th 2008, 14:32
Mr Government are we the Maltese people, the ruffians of the EU or of the Mediterranean? Then take immediate action against these foreigners who are inciting to commit criminal action against our national interests. Do as your predecessor has done a long time ago when the government stopped their flights to the tuna shoals. Have you got enough guts to send them out of our territorial waters and to take them to court? The maltese people want to see immediate action against these foreigners. We are now having enough of all these foreigners (be they fishermen, or illegal immigrants) dictating to us what to do, agaisnst our national interests. Malta comes first and foremost to us.
Christopher Briffa
Jun 17th 2008, 14:29
What are we suppose to do let these people ruin our economy? I just hope that the authorities will come down on them like a tonne of bricks, at least on this one they won`t have to worry about the political implications as all Maltese should be united on this.
Joseph Agius
Jun 17th 2008, 13:53
Any ideas where we, Maltese ,can protest outside some EU Commissioner about illegal immigration and the need for burden sharing? .... we can even threaten to block some airports or something
H Farrugia
Jun 17th 2008, 13:44
If these foreigners intend to block our national ports I urge the authorities to take drastic action against them. They have no right to block our national ports in connection with their 'plight' (sic). Tough action from our authorities should put them in their place and if they want to block ports, then they should go to their own countryand Not Malta. We will not stand idly by, seeing them killing our bread and butter. And have them arrested for incitement to commit a crime.
Robert Borg
Jun 17th 2008, 12:47
Guess we're hitting international news!!!
Sandro Pace
Jun 17th 2008, 12:36
Havent' you heard the EU?? the season is over. Now get out of here and take your tuna pens with you.