Three large tuna carcasses that washed ashore in the past few days could be the result of irregular fishing practices, according to the National Fisheries Cooperative.

Secretary Ray Bugeja said “relatively unsupervised” recreational fishing in Malta could be to blame.

“Commercial fishing is well regulated and that is important to maintain good practices, but recreational fishing does not have the same supervision.

“I wouldn’t exclude that these dead fish were dumped by recreational fishing vessels that spotted a patrol boat coming their way,” Mr Bugeja said.

Until we see one of these dead fish it’s impossible to tell

The three blue fin carcasses, which weighed between 160 and 180 kilos, were found at Qawra, St Julian’s and Marsalforn in the past few days but unofficial reports of dead fish on the southern coast of Malta could take the number up to six or seven in the past two weeks.

Their cause of death remains a mystery to local authorities as the decaying carcasses were incinerated by beach clean-up crews before official tests could be carried out.

The Fisheries Department has since informed the crews that a department officer is to be on site before disposing of any carcasses.

Department director Andreina Fenech Farrugia did not rule out any possible explanation.

“Until we see one of these dead fish it’s impossible to tell.

“It might very well be the case that these fish were dumped by fishing boats that reached their quota and noticed a patrol headed their way, but there are other possibilities,” he said.

While the local tuna season stretches from June 16 to October 14, the quota for commercial tuna fishing was reached earlier last month.

This does not preclude recreational fishermen from continuing to catch one of the prized fish every day until the season closes. In local stores tuna sells for up to €12 a kilo, making the recently retrieved carcasses worth as much as €2,200 each, but Dr Fenech Farrugia said the illicit catches could have been destined for foreign markets.

Last week an Italian-registered vessel was fined €20,000 after it was found with illegal catches including tuna.

Yesterday two other Italian vessels were found fishing in Maltese waters without the required permits and were called into port for further inspection.

The maximum fine for illicit fishing is €58,000.

“It is not just Maltese boats that need to be monitored. This is the reality of the situation,” Dr Fenech Farrugia said.