Bluefin tuna infringements should stop – Alternattiva
It is shameful that Malta has emerged as the country with the highest number of recorded infringements in the bluefin tuna ranching trade in 2010, Alternattiva Demokratika said yesterday.
The news emerged from infringement reports issued by International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), the international regulator of the bluefin tuna industry.
AD chairman Michael Briguglio said: “It is shameful that the Maltese government keeps playing to the tune of big business interests, which are only interested in making as much profit in the shortest timeframe possible, periling tuna populations in the process.”
He said the unsustainable fishing of bluefin tuna would not only lead to extinction of the species but would also endanger the livelihood of the majority of Maltese fishermen who used traditional methods of fishing.
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C Cassar
Nov 14th 2010, 14:45
All "ranching" should be outllawed immediately and never, ever allowed to be put in practice again. Additionally, the €millions made by these companies should now be retrieved retrospectively and used as funding to rebuild the natural stocks of Tuna. It's a repetition of the "hunting" saga, eventually the've been caught by the EU and a ban will come into place.
Robert Callus
Nov 14th 2010, 12:59
The PN is always dancing to the tune of big business, against the people who gave it the mandate to rule the country while the PL is most of the time silent on such issues. Maltese fishermen will suffer from this. Unfortunately some are being duped into thinking that they should compete with foreign fishermen. However there will not be any competition very soon. Divide and rule at its best.
Chris Finch
Nov 14th 2010, 10:38
Seems like Captain Watson's version of what happened last season are becoming more and more credible.
Tight controls are needed on the tuna ranching industry.
Transparent political party funding might throw some light onto why the government refuses to reign in these Tuna Cowboys.
Edward Camilleri
Nov 14th 2010, 13:12
Agree with you Chris. The huge number of tuna involved in the skirmish with the Sea Sheperd must have been caught out of season, since the seas were rough the last few days the season was open, as Captain Watson said.
Everytime one reports an illegal hunting activity, no police office turns up on scene. But when Captain Watson tried to free the illegally caught tuna, the prime minister sent out our patrol boats! No wonder illegal hunting is flourishing!
Please choose the reason of your report below: