Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Agriculture Roderick Galdes yesterday promised annoyed fishermen regular communication, but insisted that the Government had little room for manoeuvre within a sector heavily regulated by the EU.

Fishermen yesterday packed a hall in Marsaxlokk as they vented their grievances during the National Fishing Cooperative’s (NFC) general meeting.

While some were quick to direct their criticism at Fisheries control director Joe Caruana, who also held the post under the previous Administration, NFC general secretary Ray Bugeja later stressed that the views expressed were not representative of the cooperative.

He explained that Mr Caruana would often engage in discussions and consultations with the fishermen.

Mr Galdes flagged a mistake during Malta’s negotiations with the EU prior to membership, when data given to Brussels dated back to the 1970s.

In 1971, Malta had declared an exclusive fishing zone that extended to 25 nautical miles from the baselines of the Maltese Islands, in accordance with the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea. With the entry of Malta into the EU in 2004, this zone was maintained as a Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) around the Maltese Islands by the EU.

The measures adopted for the management of resources within the FMZ were designed to limit fishing capacity by restricting the size and engine power of fishing vessels.

As a result, fishermen casting their nets in particular zones were found to be breaching EU regulations. Consequently, the EU had stopped 12 trawlers from operating.

Mr Galdes also assured those present that the situation will be rectified, and he is set to participate in a number of talks held in Brussels. He also referred to the new site for the fish market, which is currently being built next door to the Marsa abattoir.

The previous Administration had decided to close down the old fish market at Grand Harbour and convert the building into a hotel. However, the new fish market’s proximity to the slaughterhouse meant that the latter was leaking waste and sewage into the building.

Mr Galdes made it clear that while solutions to the sewage problem were being sought, the site could not be altered as that would mean losing EU funds.

He added that the Government was also searching for a new landing facility, which had not been identified.