Fish farms told to be greener

Resources Minister George Pullicino has called on fish farm operators to increase cooperation with environmental groups in order to sustain the industry while protecting the country's natural resources.

The country has the largest tuna farming industry in the Mediterranean and the government strongly supported its development, Mr Pullicino said. But he insisted that its economic importance could not be at the expense of the environment.

The only way to safeguard Malta's lucrative tuna industry was through continuous education of those involved, the acceptance of regulations and constant controls to be sure everyone pulled the same rope for the species' sustainability and the sea's conservation.

Mr Pullicino was speaking at a business breakfast on Malta's acquaculture industry, marking its 20 years of success.

His comments on tuna farming come in the wake of the rejection by EU member states of a proposal to ban international trade in the species to protect it from further decline, allowing Malta's multi-million euro industry to live on.

Local tuna exports to the Japanese sushi markets last year reached a value of €100 million.