With reference to the article titled ‘Offshore fish farm deadline missed’ (April 18), the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) would like to clarify that:

At no point did the CEO suggest that the deadline for the relocation of the tuna fish farms is going to be missed.

The CEO only referred, by way of explanation, that there are two separate and distinct processes that are underway in relation to aquaculture inthe north east.

The first one involves the establishment of a formal north-east aquaculture zone that can accommodate a number of fish farms and on which a formal public consultation process to formalise the terms of reference for the EIA is ongoing.

The second relates to an application for fish farm relocation that was submitted by a company to the Planning Authority (PA) and about which ERA has been asked for feedback. ERA will be drawing up its recommendations to the PA in the coming days.

ERA reiterates that it is fully committed to ensuring, together with the PA and the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, that the agreement reached last year by all operators is respected.

Editorial note: In a telephone conversation with the Times of Malta on Monday, the ERA’s CEO, Ruben Abela, said that the proposed north-east aquaculture zone was not expected to be approved by May 31, which is the deadline for relocation as indicated in an agreement with operators and the Planning Authority, as was stated in the article. The other facts raised by the ERA in its reply were reported in the article.