Mounds of plastic and polystyrene debris found floating in Xemxija Bay have prompted an avid nature lover to call for more public debate about marine pollution and fish farm regulation.
We’re all responsible for taking care of our natural environment
Mauricio Disilvestro was perturbed when one of his routine sea clean-ups revealed a disproportionate amount of blue plastic shavings and polystyrene flotsam among the rubbish he collected.
“I collected four bags of rubbish from the sea and this blue plastic was everywhere. It was the same with the polystyrene. I collected one bagful of blue plastic and half a bag of polystyrene in just one clean-up,” Mr Disilvestro said.
Curious as to where the debris came from, Mr Disilvestro did some detective work. His findings led him to a nearby fish farm.
“The blue plastic was the same as that used by some of the fish farm pens. I even saw a worker sanding down the blue structures.”
Similarly, he noticed that the black tubes used by the fish farm to encase its fish pens were filled with polystyrene.
Mr Disilvestro compiled two separate slideshows of his findings and uploaded them to Facebook, encouraging users to share them. He also set up a nature conservation Facebook group, called Nature Lovers Malta, to discuss such issues.
He said he was not interested in targeting particular fish farms or corporations but hoped his work would raise awareness about marine pollution and “generate discussion about alternatives to large-scale, intensive fishing”.
St Paul’s Bay mayor Mario Salerno has written to Mr Disilvestro asking to meet and discuss the environmental issues he has raised, something Mr Disilvestro welcomed as a positive development. The two have yet to meet.
Mr Salerno said that he looked forward to meeting with the environmentalist although he made it clear the council had no authority over fish farm regulation.
All the council could do, he explained, was refer the issue to the relevant authorities.
The Resources Ministry was asked to explain how fish farms were regulated and whether they faced any penalties if they were found to be polluting the sea.
A spokesman said that a Fisheries Department official would be in touch but no contact was forthcoming. Questions about Mr Disilvestro’s fish farm discoveries went unanswered.
Ever passionate about environmental conservation, Mr Disilvestro has continued his clean-up efforts over the past days. A hike along the Xemxija coastline last Monday revealed a section of a tuna farm ring washed up on the bay.
“It probably broke off during a bout of stormy weather. The tubing is full of polystyrene, which will gradually float into the sea,” he said.
Together with his friends, he has also organised a series of nature clean-ups and made suggestions for cleaning up an abandoned restaurant at Fekruna Bay, Xemxija.
“I expect the authorities to investigate cases of marine and coastal pollution but we’re all responsible for taking care of our natural environment. Nature gave us our beautiful seas and landscapes: she deserves respect.”