Bluefin tuna ban 'would cost Malta economy 1% of GDP'

Alda Vella

Feb 15th 2010, 13:26

@James Dimech
Part 2

For the sake of correctness and transparency, please note that Prof Scicluna voted against the resolution, although this vote was only taken by a show of hands rather than electronically. You can see the results of the electronic votes, which make clear that he voted against and remains opposed to the re-classification of blue fin tuna by clicking on - http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/votingResults.do

The results of the vote on the CITES resolution are in the voting results for Wednesday 10th from page 81-105.

Prof Scicluna is a man of integrity and I am convinced (like thousands of other citizens that put their trust in him on the 6th June 2009 elections) that his work in the European Parliament is impeccable. He is surely demonstrating ability and credibility and is using his knowledge and experience to attain the best for the Maltese and Gozitans.

Alda Vella

Feb 15th 2010, 13:17

@James Dimech

We thank you for your interest. Hereunder is our reply.

I can assure you that the reports were correct, except that of the Brussels correspondent who misquoted Prof Scicluna as asking the European Parliament for the insertion of Blue Fin Tuna in Appedix 1 of CITES when, on the contrary, he asked for its exclusion from the list.

Following are some of the reports on Profs Scicluna's contribution on the subject.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100210/local/scicluna-calls-for-eu-proportionality-on-tuna-trade-ban

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=101473

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=60347

http://gozonews.com/12209/scicluna-urges-eu-common-sense-and-proportionality-on-blue-fin-tuna/

Prof Scicluna informs me that the European Socialists were like the EPP split on this issue. He spoke to his fellow socialists on Tuesday evening and voted there too. Unfortunately the Maltese, Italian and Spanish socialists present were not enough to obtain a majority in the S & D Group.

The following day in Plenary the socialist speaking time was limited and Prof Scicluna submitted his prepared speech in writing as the EP procedure demands.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+CRE+20100209+ITEM-012+DOC+XML+V0//MT&language=MT&query=INTERV&detail=2-322

Cont'd......

Jason Hunter

Feb 13th 2010, 09:09

@ M Gauci
Moron

So you think that a short term allowance to catch Tuna will benefit Malta longterm? So what happens to the PLANET when the species is wiped out? Would you like to explain to your children that you were in favour of not protecting the species that ended up being wiped off the face of the earth?

Well, considering your attitude maybe it wouldn't bother you. There are blockheads everywhere...

I love eating Tuna but will happily give it up to see the survival of the species. And just so you have your facts right, the 1% of GDP refers to mainly penned tune that never comes close to our market but goes straight to Japan where it sells for the highest profit, and that profit then goes to foreign nationals' bank accounts. Sure we benefit, but a paltry amount in consideration. You dont honestly think that Tuna farmers do it for fun do you? Tuna caught on lines is an infinitesimal fraction of that 1%

One day, when you can see past the end of your nose, then think about opening your mouth...

Julian Maddalo

Feb 12th 2010, 17:02

@MGauci I think you got it all wrong, since I did not accuse anyone of lying, so you please read my comments again. What I said is that the attitude we adopt in certain fora is simply embarrassing since we conveniently and repeatedly refer to the size of our country to expect derogations from every rule under the sun.

R Brincat

Feb 12th 2010, 14:51

It may be that those fishermen (in Malta and elsewhere) who are catching tuna using the single line system are not threatening the long term sustainability of BFT, but I doubt these fishermen are the ones contributing the 1% to the GDP! Are the politicians really worried about protecting these 'smaller scale' fishing practices or the big money trawlers and farming? My guess is that if the cost to the economy is so big then we must be catching/selling a lot of tuna for our size and hence are contributing to the problem!

M.Gauci

Feb 12th 2010, 13:47

@Julian Maddolo
You got it all wrong.
Just read through the article again and point out any lies you may think there is.
Prof. Scicluna is absolutaly spot on and needs congratulating on a well researched speech.
We dont need special treatment, we need people who know what they are talking about.

James Dimech

Feb 12th 2010, 12:13

According to reports Prof Scicluna made his speech in "written form" instead of speaking out in Parliament like a proper MEP. In the meantime the European Socialists took a position which is against Malta. Why didn't Prof speak out and try to convince his colleagues ? Is he portraying himself as the tuna hero here in Malta when in fact at the EP he hid our position because he was scared to go against his Socialist colleagues??

J. Borg

Feb 12th 2010, 12:00

.....and also possibly start stalling the tuna fish farms which have nibbled away much more that 1% of GDP in tourism income - let alone our quality of life!

L Camilleri

Feb 12th 2010, 11:42

Profs Scicluna is more than right. If Italy, France and Spain and other countries used Malta's fishing methods to catch tuna, today the EU will be seeking measures to curtail the tuna from taking over the Mediterranean. The solution for the EU to save tuna fish should have been to make other countries adopt Malta's fishing methods. Common sense and fair play dictates this and by no stretch of imagination is Profs Scicluna's speech embarassing calling for pity.

DVella

Feb 12th 2010, 10:50

How stupid and narrow minded can we get in this country? (!)

If the Bluefin Tuna Ban would cost Malta 1% of its GDP now whilst there are still 'some' tuna left then what would be the obvious and inevitable situation when we have finally fished the species to oblivion? Just in case anybody's actually exercising some intelligent thought in between these pathetic bouts of chest-beating . . . this is surely what will happen if the current situation is allowed to continue!

Better suffer a 1% loss now and have the hope of recovery of the species in the future, although this is not guaranteed, given the damage already done ! ! !

Julian Maddalo

Feb 12th 2010, 10:37

Once again, on yet another subject, Malta adopts the holier-than-thou approach where because of our special circumstances we deserve special treatment and because we're so so small please please have pity on us.

How embarrassing.