Malta must put its house in order and immediately abide by European Union rules aimed at better managing fishing activities in the Mediterranean, Brussels has warned.
The rules, called the Mediterranean Regulation, were established three years ago and entered into force at the beginning of this month.
"So far, the seven member states involved, including Malta, seem to be ignoring some of their obligations," a European Commission said yesterday.
"Malta had three whole years to prepare but it seems that this was not sufficient. Malta didn't ask for many derogations from this regulation and, thus, we expect the island to comply without further delay."
According to the European Commission, the state of several fish stocks in the Mediterranean is alarming and catches are getting smaller every year.
Scientists estimate that more than 20 stocks are overfished because they are caught when too young while about another 10 are considered to be at low levels.
Several species living in closer vicinity to the sea bottom, like hake, red mullet, red shrimp and common sole, are overexploited. Moreover, certain small pelagic stocks, including anchovy and sardine, are on the decline in several areas.
The aim of the Mediterranean Regulation is to ensure that exploitation of resources is sustainable by implementing measures such as minimum fishing distances from the coast, minimum mesh sizes, maximum overall dimensions of fishing gears and minimum size of organisms. The rules apply to Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus and Malta. One of the sticking points with all seven countries is their failure to submit or their late submission of national management plans for the fisheries in their territorial waters.
The plans should address fisheries conducted by trawl nets, boat seines, shore seines, surrounding nets and dredges. Failure to fulfil the requirements for a given fishery is a breach of the regulation.
The first set of national management plans, applying to certain fishing gear, had to be adopted by member states by December 2007.
"Malta is one of the member states that did not submit its first management plan. In 2008 and in 2009, Malta submitted draft plans which we think are insufficient and are not in compliance with the new rules. We are in discussion with the Maltese authorities over these but we think that Malta should have been ready by now," the official said.
The Commission described all member states as being in the same boat in breaching some of the rules.
In a strongly-worded statement, EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki signalled that the Commission might not be patient for much longer. "I will see to it that the Mediterranean Regulation is strictly implemented. The transition period is over. I call on member states to take action now," she said.
These were rules that member states unanimously agreed to through a compromise in 2006, which had amended the more ambitious Commission proposal, she said. "It is difficult to accept that member states are not willing or able today to implement even the 2006 compromise. I am truly disappointed.
"We need to reverse the worrying trend of unsustainable fishing practices and impoverishment of marine resources and we need to do it now. But for this to happen, everybody must shoulder their responsibilities and abide by the agreed rules," Ms Damanaki insisted.