Another blow to local industry as Brussels seeks ban on Libyan tuna

Malta’s tuna industry may be impacted by an EU proposal for a ban on bluefin tuna fishing in Libyan waters this coming season.

As the fishing season draws closer, the European Commission yesterday said it had officially asked the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) to impose a ban on tuna fishing in Libyan waters or by Libyan trawlers.

The Commission argued that, in the current circumstances, the Libyan government was not in a position to make sure the strict rules regulating this fishery would be respected.

Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki announced she had written to Fabio Hazin, chairman of ICCAT, asking to suspend Libyan tuna activity so long as the current turmoil in the embattled North African state continued.

She wrote that the Commission “strongly believes Libya is not in a position to honour the rights and to discharge the obligations arising from the ICCAT Convention as well as the obligation to ensure compliance with and the en­forcement of applicable ICCAT Conservation and Management measures.

“Accordingly, the EU considers that the ICCAT Commission should decide that all ICCAT-related fishing activities conducted by vessels entitled to fly the flag of Libya or by other vessels within the waters under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of Libya be temporarily suspended until Libya is able to ensure the respect of all ICCAT provisions,” Commissioner Damanaki insisted.

Contacted yesterday, a government spokesman did not want to comment on this proposal, saying the Maltese authorities were looking into the issue.

However, sources close to the industry said the ban could have negative repercussions on the multi-million euro Maltese industry.

“Libyan waters are very resourceful where it comes to this fishery due to its vast spawning grounds and much of the tuna caught by the Libyans or by other fleets with Libyan permission ends up in Maltese tuna fattening cages,” the sources said.

It is known that local tuna businessmen buy tuna from a number of suppliers including Libyan fishermen.

“A lot of the tuna which ends up fattened in Maltese tuna ranches comes from Libya and a ban will mean less tuna and fewer prospects for Malta’s €80 million annual export industry.”

If this ban comes into effect, it will be the second blow for Malta’s tuna industry this year following the earthquake that hit Japan a few weeks ago and which is also expected to leave its mark on the industry.

All the tuna fattened in Malta is usually exported to Japan where tuna is considered to be a delicacy used for sushi and sashimi. The Japanese earthquake is expected to have huge repercussions on that country’s economy which is forecast to lead to a reduced demand for tuna imports from Europe.