Fish quotas would deal a blow to Malta, and lead to the demise of the fishing craft, Animal Welfare Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes warned this evening.
While we should adhere to EU regulations, Malta needed to discuss flexibility as a one size fits all policy was not appropriate for the island, he told an audience attending one in a series of the Gvern li Jisma meetings.
Mr Galdes was reacting to a question about Malta’s position on swordfish quotas. The government did not agree with quotas, he insisted, noting that the majority of the swordfish stock was netted by other countries, such as Italy.
Noting that over 90 per cent of the species in the Mediterranean was overfished, he said Malta was in talks with Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella about the issue.
Mr Galdes said that discussions will also be held between European and North African countries about introducing controls for African fishermen that where similar to those imposed on their European counterparts.
Referring to the Pitkalija, which he called “a showcase of the Maltese farmer” Mr Galdes said the aim was to transform it the same way the Fisheries had been modernised. Maintenance tenders have already been issued, and the aim was to kick off urgent structural works this year.
Mr Galdes also spoke of the EU presidency, which Malta would be taking up in six months just as the European agriculture sector was going through a crisis. In some places the price of milk had dropped so low that it matched that of water, he said.
Speaking at the same event, Environment Minister Jose Herrera said waste was the second largest challenge for the island following that of energy, which had been solved through a new power plant.
The government would be taking tough decisions about Civic Amenity sites, however, he would only be able to provide details about the reform in the coming weeks.
When asked about the Dwejra site, he said the Environment and Resources Authority was fine tuning management plans for the area, which included Roman and Phoenician shipwrecks in the vicinities.