Labour MEP Edward Scicluna has urged the EU not to impose an outright ban on the international trade of bluefin tuna, warning that the EU should apply "common sense and proportionality" rather than back a ban which would cause huge damage to the Maltese economy.

The European Parliament debated and then voted on a resolution in advance of the next CITES meeting in March, as the EU seeks to agree a common position on whether it will support a trade ban on blue fin tuna proposed by Monaco.

In his contribution to the debate, Prof Scicluna said:

"I do not question that blue fin tuna needs protecting, but putting it on Appendix I of CITES and banning trade in it would cost the Maltese economy 1% of GDP. This is like asking to close down the whole salmon industry in Scotland in one swipe without batting an eyelid."

Pointing out that blue fin tuna stocks were over exploited by the fishing practices of a small number of fishing trawling companies from leading EU Member States, Prof Scicluna said:

"If blue fin tuna stocks are being diminished by a handful of trawling companies from France, Spain and Italy each catching thousands of tonnes, then Maltese fishermen with their single-line system of fishing do not pose a threat to the long-term sustainability of BFT.

"The EU does not need an international environmental body to assist in controlling the fishing industry practiced in its leading Member States. It has enough clout to do that itself."

Prof Scicluna said that the EU needed to be pragmatic.

"If international political opinion means we cannot stop BFT from being listed within CITES, then we should apply common sense and proportionality.

"If blue fin tuna must be on CITES then the EU should follow the advice of the expert group of the Fisheries and Aquaculture organisation of the United Nations and list it in Appendix II."