Marsaxlokk remains home to generations of traditional fishermen. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Traditional fishermen in Marsaxlokk are complaining that the Labour government did not keep pre-electoral promises that their lot would improve with the party into power.

Professional tuna fishermen, whose livelihoods still depend on a skill inherited through generations, say they are disappointed they are faring no better than they were under the previous administration.

They say this despite the government lobbying the EU to increase bluefin tuna quotas in the face of strong opposition by environmental groups fearing the species could become extinct. The increase still works in favour of the industrial fisheries sector, the fishermen say.

Governments have agreed to an annual 20 per cent increase over three years in bluefin tuna catches – the 13,500 tonnes quota will rise to 19,296 tonnes by 2016.

The government is denying it has not done enough for traditional fishermen, saying it is bound by EU rules. The fishermen counter they were led to believe otherwise before the election.

Traditional fishermen say the quotas introduced are not their fault but a result of the industry’s greed. Still, they are the ones paying the price because of the EU quotas.

They thought a change in government would somehow work around this but the talk resulted in nothing as they now understand the government cannot remove their shackles.

They can catch larger amounts but it’s not a selective process and large amounts of other species are wasted

“In the late 1990s, industrial fishing companies came into the picture equipped with technology that devastated the sea.

“They can catch larger amounts but it’s not a selective process and large amounts of other species are wasted. Our work respects the environment,” a fisherman, who asked not to be named, said.

Traditional fishermen have long been complaining the introduction of tuna pens, or farms, is fast destroying fishing traditions.

The farms rely on purse seiners (industrial vessels) to provide enough live bluefin tuna to stock their pens. The fish is then sold to the lucrative Japanese market.

Purse seiners can rake in hundreds of tonnes of tuna in one trip through their large nets and technology to detect areas where the fish are.

In contrast, traditional fishermen use lines that catch one fish at a time and are led to them by seagulls.

The fishermen complain that the increase in the tuna quota has benefited industry, as it still determines the market price. The government argues that price benefits traditional fishermen too.

“The market price is determined by Japan because it offers the highest price. For example, Japan will offer €20 per kilo but if everyone sells their catch here the market gets flooded and they get 50c per kilo instead. This doesn’t even cover their expenses,” a fisheries department spokeswoman said.

There are 63 vessels in Malta licensed to catch tuna. The quota is divided among them according to EU rules. The increase in quota means that a few more vessels can venture out but some choose to sell the quota to the industry rather than take the risk.

The tender for the sale of quotas is issued by the Fisheries Cooperative, which should be working in the best interest of traditional fishermen. “The government reached an agreement with the cooperative for the additional quota to be shared equally among licensed fishermen. It is up to the fishermen whether to sell their quota,” the fisheries department spokeswoman said.

She pointed out that fishermen who did go fishing still had an advantage because the government kept a reserve quota to cater for any shortage or illegal landings. The remaining quota is then distributed half way through the season but that additional amount is only distributed among those fishermen who go out at sea.

Traditional fishermen, however, insist they can never compete with industry to try to buy some extra quota and improve their income. They say the Japanese market is not only determining the price of tuna but also their quality of life.