Malta told to submit tuna plan by mid-August

The European Commission is expecting Malta to submit a four-year management plan for the tuna fisheries sector by August 15, as the EU faces increasing pressure to take stronger action to prevent the extinction of bluefin tuna.

The tuna trade is concentrated in the Mediterranean where the spawning grounds are located. Malta forms part of the international network where millions are earned by a handful of major players each year.

While Malta's fleet is small compared with other Mediterranean countries, the country remains the global capital of tuna farms, where fish are fattened before export to the lucrative Japanese market.

Following the warnings by international environmental organisations that bluefin tuna is on the brink of extinction, the EU has increased efforts to control the exploitation of fish stocks by its Mediterranean members.

"It is crucial that Malta undertakes a commitment to reduce its fishing overcapacity by 25 per cent, prior to the 2010 fishing season as well as implement a four-year capacity management plan for the period 2010-2013," a Commission spokesman told The Sunday Times.

Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg told the Fisheries Council in Luxembourg last Tuesday that 861 vessels had been allowed to operate in the fishery this year, a reduction of 10 per cent over last year.

But Dr Borg stressed the "urgent" need to improve the management of bluefin tuna fishery: "We desperately need proactive measures on capacity reduction and compliance to ensure that we achieve the recovery of the stock".

The Commission insisted the plan adopted last November addressed the recovery of stocks, though it said that implementation and compliance was crucial.

The main aspects of the plan include a cut in the duration of the fishing season, a reduction in fishing capacity, a freeze on farming capacities, a regional observer programme and stronger control measures from the point of capture to the market.

According to Greenpeace, which protested against tuna fishing last week, the bulk of local fishermen still employ traditional methods, which are not damaging to fish stocks. However, since they are unable to compete with the industrial fleets, they are forced to work for the industry.

"The fact that Maltese fishermen are working for industrial fleets is a direct consequence of overfishing. It is the small ones that will suffer; the big ones have a very strong position and are able to dictate the rules," Greenpeace said.