Fishermen are trying to import diesel directly from Libya to save money, Fishermen’s Cooperative Secretary Paul Piscopo claimed yesterday.
We believe the best way forward is through cooperation
He said the industry will face a crisis in the coming months because profits were being eroded while expenses rise.
But efforts to import the fuel were proving difficult, especially for those who had smaller boats or just one vessel.
Mr Piscopo was speaking to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Special Delegate Simon Busuttil, who is organising meetings with social partners and members of civil society.
Fishermen, he said, should be given some assistance so that a balance could be found between profits and expenses.
He attacked the Planning Authority for “hindering fishermen”, saying it was not true that the dusky grouper was being overfished, as the authority was claiming.
National Fisheries Cooperative President Ray Bugeja said the cooperative was confident the Prime Minister could help resolve differences through balance and truth.
Yesterday’s meeting in Valletta was called two weeks ago in a last-ditch attempt to stop fishermen protesting in Grand Harbour over “broken promises”.
According to the cooperative, in 2004 the government promised to halve the National Insurance rate, implement a new insurance scheme for fishermen and compensate swordfish catchers affected by coastal fishing bans. It also wants a guarantee of no quotas for lampuki.
Fishermen are pushing for a lower National Insurance rate and reforms to ensure fishing remains a sustainable industry.
Dr Gonzi said solutions to the sector’s problems should be found through discussions, as the volume of fish was definitely decreasing whether due to overfishing, pollution or divers, so immediate action was needed.
Dr Gonzi also met the national council of the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU).
Talking about issues concerning its members, vice president Joan Haber said: “We cannot continue making proposals, discussing them but then postpone the important decisions. We know how to be militant and take people with placards outside Castille but we believe that the best way forward is through cooperation.”
She also said some members suffered intimidation and personal attacks.
Dr Gonzi replied that the GRTU represented Maltese economy’s backbone and it had suggested several schemes and initiatives now benefitting SMEs. He condemned personal attacks as unacceptable.
As this meeting was being held at GRTU headquarters, a number of gas distributors turned up and insisted they wanted to speak to the Prime Minister.
One representative eventually told Dr Gonzi about distributors’ concerns over an open market.
They are protesting against a legal notice issued by the government in October 2008 that effectively opened up gas distribution to anyone with a Malta Resources Authority permit.
This, the distributors claim, was in breach of a 1992 agreement and new distributors were now taking over their sales.